Dockwell Wood

Deep in the Monmouthshire borderlands near Chepstow, Dockwell Wood is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan a pilgrimage to - and that's exactly what makes it worthwhile. It's a proper woodland walk through mixed deciduous trees, with paths that wind through beech and oak, the kind of place where the light filters through the canopy in that particular way that makes everything feel a bit removed from the world.

The wood itself isn't enormous, so you're looking at an hour or so for a decent mooch about, not a full day's hiking. What it does offer is genuine peace - no car parks, no visitor centres, just trees and the occasional sound of woodland birds. Local walkers know it well enough, but it never feels rammed. If you're staying at Penhein Glamping down the road, it's close enough for a morning walk before breakfast, far enough that you won't feel like you're just padding out the itinerary.

This is strictly for people who actually enjoy walking through woodland without needing much else happening. If your family needs a playground or a café at the end of the trail, you'll be disappointed. But if you're after genuine quiet - the kind where you can actually hear yourself think - and don't mind the walking, it's worth the detour from Chepstow. Bring decent boots if it's been wet; the paths can get muddy. No admission charge that we know of, and no particular times - you're in and out as you please.