Whartons Pool Plantation

Deep woodland near Sandbach where the trees properly tower above you and the air smells of damp earth and pine. Whartons Pool Plantation is exactly what it sounds like - a working forest where someone's actually managing the timber rather than letting nature run wild. You'll find open rides cutting through the dense blocks of conifers, which means at least you won't get completely lost, and the occasional clearing breaks up the relentless green.

Walkers get the most from this one. The flat terrain makes it accessible even if your knees aren't what they were, though the paths can be muddy after rain - proper Cheshire bog conditions. There's a stripped-back quality to it that some find refreshing and others find, well, a bit dull. No visitor centre, no cafes, no twee signage. Just forest. You're allowed to roam freely, which is brilliant if you want solitude but means you'll need a decent sense of direction or a map.

Allow a couple of hours to really wander through the place without feeling rushed. It works nicely as a morning walk before heading to Yellowstone camping and caravan at Smallwood - only three kilometres away - for lunch and the rest of your break. This is proper walking country rather than a destination in itself, which means if you're staying locally and want to burn off some energy between park activities, it's genuinely handy. Best visited mid-week when you won't be dodging forestry vehicles or other hikers.