Ash Copse

A proper woodland walk through Oxfordshire countryside, Ash Copse is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter, the canopy dense enough that even on bright days you're walking in dappled shade. It's not vast - you can work through the whole thing in an hour or so - but it has that quiet, slightly wild feel that makes you forget you're in the south east.

Walkers will appreciate this more than most. The paths wind through genuine woodland with ash, oak and beech, and there's something restorative about it after a day on busier trails. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes, unless they're the type to hunt for insects and build stick houses. History buffs won't find much in the way of ruins or plaques - this is just trees doing their thing.

Timing-wise, spring and early autumn are when it feels most alive. Winter is muddy. Summer can be close and buggy. Allow ninety minutes if you're dawdling, forty-five if you just want to tick it off.

If you're staying at Nordic Glamping at Botswicky or Evelyns Garden Glamping - both cracking spots for a proper break - Ash Copse makes a decent morning excursion. It's close enough not to eat into your day, far enough from the car parks to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. Faringdon Grange is a bit further out, but still within reach if you're after a proper woodland leg-stretch to break up a longer stay.