Hardwell Wood

The woodland around Hardwell, just outside Wantage, offers proper walking territory if you know where to look. It's the sort of place locals use rather than tourists - quiet, undramatic, with enough paths to keep you occupied for a couple of hours without demanding much in return.

What you're getting is straightforward: trees, soft ground underfoot, and that particular English woodland smell of damp earth and leaf mulch. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either refreshing or disappointing depending on your mood. It works well for families who want their kids burning off energy without the crowds you'd find at bigger attractions. Walkers will appreciate the network of footpaths, though don't expect dramatic views or ancient monuments - this is about the walk itself, not a destination.

Go early morning or late afternoon if you can. The wood feels properly peaceful then, and you'll dodge school groups and weekend dog-walkers. Allow an hour or two depending on which routes you fancy.

It slots nicely into a Wantage-based holiday. The glamping spots nearby - Evelyns Garden and Nordic Glamping at Botswicky are both excellent - make good bases for this sort of casual exploring. It's the kind of place you visit because you're staying locally, not because it's famous. Which is precisely why it works.