Weston Woods

The woods roll down a steep valley near Stoke-on-Trent, ancient and proper wild. Weston Woods is the sort of place where you actually feel like you've stepped away from the Potteries rather than just driven five miles out of town. Footpaths wind through beech and oak, and in spring the bluebells make the walk worthwhile on their own. The terrain's uneven enough to feel like a genuine walk, not a stroll - bring decent boots, especially after rain when it gets boggy in patches.

This is where walkers come on a Sunday morning, not screaming families. If your kids are the type who'll moan about "just trees" for twenty minutes, give it a miss. But if they're old enough to splash through streams and climb over fallen trunks, they'll find it absorbing. Allow a solid hour and a half for the full circuit if you're not rushing. The gradients mean it's not buggy-friendly, which keeps the crowds down but also means you won't manage it with a toddler.

Staying at Springfields Countryside Caravan Park - only a few miles away and highly rated - this makes a proper morning out before you head back for lunch. It's free to walk, no visitor centre nonsense, just the woods doing what they've done for centuries. The nearest decent parking is supposed to be at the lay-by on the main road, so check before you go. Not Instagram material. Better than Instagram material.