Autumn Trail at Brandon Marsh

Brandon Marsh is running the Autumn Trail over the October half-term, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, with the reserve open 10:00 to 16:00 each day. It's a family-friendly nature walk run by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, and it's built for young explorers rather than seasoned hikers: the whole thing takes around 20 minutes and is designed for little legs, so it's an easy one to fit in without the kids getting restless. The challenge is to find six autumn stamps along the way, and there's a prize at the end for completing it. It isn't suitable for under-3s, so it's best for families with slightly older children.

Beyond the trail itself, there's plenty to make a proper day of it. There's free parking on site, a cafe for when the kids get hungry, toilets, and a picnic area if you'd rather pack your own lunch and eat outdoors. It's a good spot to spend a few hours without having to rush off. One thing to keep in mind: dogs aren't permitted, so you'll need to leave yours at home for this one.

On the practical side, trail packs are £2.50 each, and that includes free child entry to Brandon Marsh. You pay for them in person at the visitor centre welcome desk rather than booking online, so you can just turn up and get sorted. The packs are available until 3.15pm each day, which gives you a bit of a deadline if you're planning a late afternoon visit. You'll find the reserve at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW.