Forest bathing at Brampton Wood

Brampton Wood, about a mile and a half west of Brampton near Huntingdon, is Cambridgeshire's second-largest ancient woodland, covering 132 hectares. It appears in the Domesday Book and is at least 900 years old. Oak, ash, field maple, aspen and birch make up most of it, and there are a few native wild pear trees, two of them on the perimeter path. More than two miles of wide rides run through the wood, mown every other year so wildflowers can grow.

The small car park is off Brampton Road, on the minor road to Grafham. You can only enter at the four official entrances, as there are no public rights of way and access is permissive. The broad rides are the easiest walking; side paths are narrower with slight slopes, and both can be muddy in winter and sometimes in other seasons. Spring brings primroses, bluebells, cowslips and wood anemones, and summer brings orchids and butterflies such as white admiral along the rides. Dogs must be on a lead.