Best places: National forests in England

Forested mountain park with walking and biking trails, plus rich wildlife and a visitor centre.

Adventure-activity chain venue where groups explore the forest canopy via a treetop rope course.

320-acre forest featuring tall trees, hike/bike trails, a cafe & a tree-top ropes course & zip line.

👍👍 Had a lovely walk in Epping forest from one end to the other. Beautiful forest and tress. Really enjoyed it with today's excellent weather. Highly recommended. Seems to be excellent for cyclists as well who were out in considerable numbers.

Multi-use forest with horse-riding, orienteering, biking and zip wire through the forest canopy.

Forest offering trails for walking, cycling & horseback riding, plus a cafe & wildlife viewing.

Grand Victorian country house in a parkland setting, hosting weddings, conferences and film shoots.

Forested recreation hub offering many cycling & walking trails, indoor/outdoor art exhibits & more.

Nature walks & cycling trails through a forested valley, plus a cafe with gourmet home cooking.

Remote area known for the quality of its night skies, with a large man-made lake & an observatory.

Nature preserve offering walking trails through woodlands & gorges, plus scenic city & bridge views.

Vast wooded natural area with trails & picnic areas, plus archery & various activities for kids.

👍👍 Accessible from a small car park off a lane near postbridge, Bellever Forest has trails through the mostly pine forest. At the far end this opens up to a tor and the wider moors. Some photos here from a recent snowy walk.

Adventure-activity chain venue where groups explore the forest canopy via a treetop rope course.

Adventure-activity chain venue where groups explore the forest canopy via a treetop rope course.

Sprawling national forest offering walking & mountain-biking trails, plus a rope course & ziplines.

👍👍 Always a warm and friendly welcome here at this clean and light cafe. We love coming back from long walks and runs through the myriad of paths and trails to enjoy a delicious hot breakfast and big mug of tea. The cafe is set close enough to the car park for good accessibility.for those less able...

👍👍 Great place for a walk in amongst beautiful surroundings. The little cafe offers a selection of teas, coffees and other soft drinks and has plenty of seating. I visited on a Saturday and the car park closed at 16:00, and there is also free parking available on the roadside.

👍👍 A favourite place for a dog walk. Beautiful to get (semi) lost in the woods. So many different trails to follow and walks that extend beyond.

Play areas, cycling & walking trails, a café & tree canopy adventure course in national forest.