Bower Copse

Walking into Bower Copse feels like stepping back into someone else's woodland - mature trees, proper dense canopy, the kind of place where you actually need to slow down. It's a working forest near Faringdon in Oxfordshire, so you're not looking at manicured paths and visitor centres. What you get instead is the real thing: mixed woodland with established oaks and beeches, quiet enough that you'll hear the birds properly.

This is walker territory, full stop. Bring decent boots because the ground gets boggy in patches, and there are fallen branches to navigate. A couple of hours is about right - long enough to feel like you've actually been somewhere, short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome. Kids might find it interesting if they're the type to look for woodland creatures and climb on things, but it's not a destination with climbing frames or waymarked trails designed for families.

It's free and open access, which is the main appeal. No visitor numbers, no car park queues, no gift shop guilt. The trade-off is that facilities are non-existent, so come prepared.

For a park holiday based at Faringdon Grange or The Real Campsite - both within easy reach - Bower Copse works as a solid morning walk before heading elsewhere. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's a genuinely useful spot if you need decent woodland without the tourist infrastructure. Worth adding to an itinerary rather than planning your week around it.