Ashley Marsh Covert

The woodland here feels proper old - Ashley Marsh Covert is one of those small Wiltshire forests that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards anyone who takes the trouble to find it near Malmesbury. You're walking through mixed deciduous trees, the kind of place where you'll spot pheasants crashing through the undergrowth and hear more birdsong than traffic noise, which already puts it ahead of most nature spots within twenty minutes of civilisation.

It's straightforward woodland walking rather than a destination with facilities or a visitor centre. Bring decent boots - the ground gets boggy in patches - and give yourself a couple of hours to properly wander without feeling rushed. The canopy's thick enough that even on drizzly days it feels properly sheltered, and there's a genuine sense of being away from things despite Malmesbury being practically on your doorstep.

Families with walkers aged eight and up will get something from it; younger kids might find it a bit samey. The real appeal is for anyone after a quiet morning in the woods without the crowds you'd get at somewhere more famous. It works brilliantly as a break in a park holiday - you're only three miles from Malmesbury Glamping at Whychurch Farm and similar from Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park, so you could easily fit this into a day without it feeling like a major expedition. Go early if you can. Midweek mornings are particularly lovely.