Brinsham Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Wotton-under-Edge, Brinsham Wood is the sort of place you stumble across and wonder why you haven't been before. It's not a manicured country estate with tea rooms and gift shops - it's genuine forest floor stuff. Beech and oak dominate, with enough clearings to avoid feeling claustrophobic, and the paths are decent underfoot even after rain.

Walkers will get the most from this. The routes aren't marked with interpretive panels or themed trails, so come armed with a map if you want structure. Kids aged six upwards tend to enjoy the scrambling opportunities around fallen logs and the general sense of slightly wilder nature than your average park. Much younger children might find the walk bit dull after thirty minutes.

It's free to access, which is the main win. Allow ninety minutes for a proper wander without rushing. Autumn's your best bet - the beech foliage is genuinely striking, and the woodland floor is thick with colour.

If you're based at Wixoldbury Farm Glamping nearby, this beats driving twenty minutes to somewhere more famous. It's the sort of walk that feels like a local secret - muddy boots, maybe spot a deer if you're quiet, no crowds. Nothing flashy, but properly restorative. Bring wellies even if the forecast looks dry.