Garth Wood

Garth Wood sits just outside Ross-on-Wye and is the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan for. It's a proper working forest with a network of paths that range from gentle woodland strolls to more ambitious rambles through beech and oak. The canopy's thick enough that even on scorching days you'll find shade, which matters more than you'd think in summer.

Walkers get the most from this one. If you're the type who enjoys identifying trees and spotting the odd deer between the undergrowth, you'll spend a good two hours here without feeling rushed. Families with younger kids might find an hour enough before legs start aching. The paths are reasonably well-marked but a map's worth carrying - it's easy enough to loop back on yourself if you're not paying attention.

Best visited in autumn when the colour's coming through, though spring brings bluebells if conditions are right. Avoid peak summer weekends if you value quiet. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared with water and snacks.

If you're camping at Trippenkennett Farm five miles south, Garth Wood makes an easy morning outing before heading back for lunch. It's the kind of forest that works best as part of a bigger day rather than a standalone destination, but it absolutely delivers if walking through proper English woodland is what you're after.