'I found a relaxing oasis next to a motorway just outside Cambridge'

Coming from London, I grew up surrounded by grey concrete buildings and limited greenspaces. Despite how morbid that might sound, I love the city.

London is vibrant, loud, and full of life. Moving to Cambridge as a 23-year-old was quite a shock to my system after spending my whole life around blaring nightclubs, high-rise office buildings, and people spilling out onto the streets of pubs.

The pace of city life in Cambridge is slightly slower than London but that doesn't mean it doesn't get busy and stressful. Luckily, the range of parks to explore and fresh air available means you can take a break from daily life whenever you need to.

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Found next to the A14, Milton Country Park is one of the many areas you can easily reach from the city. The relaxing oasis gives you some space away from the hustle and bustle of Cambridge.

To get to the park, I had to walk through an industrial estate filled with warehouses, which wasn't the most idyllic setting. However, once I reached the entrance to the park, the loud city sounds gave way to the chirping of birds.

If you are visiting the park from further away, Milton County Park has a car park that costs from £1 for 30 minutes to £20 for all day. Next to the car park, I spotted a dog enjoying a relaxing bath in the dog washing area that is handy throughout winter when the park is muddy.

Armed with a carefully curated playlist, I was ready to explore the many woodland areas around the park. As it had been raining in the area recently, the park was incredibly muddy and being a city person, the only suitable shoes I had were a pair of Dr Martens, which did end up caked in mud after my adventure.

The park had lots to see with a few lakes dotted around and plenty of benches to take a rest and enjoy the scenery Cambridgeshire has to offer. The platforms that lead into the lakes were particularly nice to watch the ducks gliding through the water.

At times during my walk, I could hear the cars driving past on the motorway but this didn't ruin my peaceful surroundings. I spent some time watching the swans gracefully walking around the park.

It was nice to switch off from daily life by taking in the views around me. The soothing sounds of running water and greeting the excitable dogs I met along the way was enough to put my mind at ease.

The park is also good for families with a few activities like an outdoor laser tag course and a massive playground that is sure to keep children entertained. Throughout the year, Milton Country Park puts on a range of events that you can check out on its website here.

After soaking up the serene atmosphere, I made way back to the entrance of the park and passed by the Grounds Café. The café has plenty of seating indoors for when you need warming up in the winter and tables available outside that overlook one of the lakes.

However, I decided to visit Coffee World's new espresso bar, which is only around a five minute walk from the park. The café was a great way to end my trip, as I was able to pick up a sweet treat and a hot drink to defrost my hands.

What made my trip even better was managing to avoid slipping over in the mud! If you do take a trip to Milton Country Park, I definitely recommend investing in some proper walking boots.

Even though I am a city person, Milton Country Park is now one of my favourite places in the county. The beautiful lakes and woodland provide the perfect escape from work and also offers a great place for friends, families, and pets to take some time away from the city.