Crab Orchard

You'll find Crab Orchard tucked into the Oxfordshire countryside between Moreton-in-Marsh and the rolling Cotswold hills - it's a working woodland rather than a formal visitor attraction, which means you get the real thing without the crowds or the gift shop. The forest floor is proper ancient woodland, and in spring the bluebells absolutely cover the ground. There are footpaths running through it, though they're not always signposted brilliantly, so come prepared with decent boots and ideally an Ordnance Survey map.

This is the sort of place where walkers spend two to three hours if they know what they're doing - longer if you're the type who stops to examine every tree. Families with young children might find it a bit heavy going; it's muddy, there are fallen logs everywhere, and there's nowhere to buy a Capri-Sun. History buffs will appreciate the old coppice management marks still visible in the tree structures.

Being free and genuinely quiet, it works brilliantly if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping sites - Moreton-in-Marsh Experience Freedom is closest at just 2.6 miles, or there's Bluewood Lodges up at 5.3 miles if you want something with a hot tub. You can easily combine a morning walk here with the market town amenities Moreton-in-Marsh offers. Just don't expect interpretation boards or facilities. That's rather the point.