Westmorland Park

The woodland paths at Westmorland Park loop through dense forest just outside Bracknell, offering a proper escape from the town's shopping centres and roundabouts. It's a working nature reserve rather than a manicured park - you'll find yourself walking under high canopy, past ponds and clearings where the habitat changes as you go deeper in. The trails are well-marked but feel genuinely wild in patches, with enough variation to keep you engaged for a good hour or more depending on which route you take.

This is most rewarding for keen walkers and anyone interested in local wildlife - birdwatchers come here regularly, and the ponds attract dragonflies in summer. Families with younger children might find it a bit underwhelming if they're after obvious attractions; there's nowhere to stop for a drink and no playground, so you're really here for the walk itself. Allow at least 90 minutes if you want to see the place properly rather than just dash through.

Being free (as far as we know) and close to Warfield Park and Scotlands House Campsite, it works well as a morning activity if you're based at one of the caravan parks in the area. The ground gets boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. Best visited spring or autumn when you're not battling through clouds of midges. It's the sort of place that rewards you for finding it rather than drawing crowds - that's rather the point.