Hare Covert

You'll find yourself in proper woodland once you push into Hare Covert - the sort of place where the canopy closes in and you actually feel removed from things. It's a forest block in Wiltshire, a few miles from Stroud, and it does what forests do best: offers shade, quiet, and the chance to walk without seeing another soul for stretches at a time.

What you get here is straightforward. There are paths to follow, trees to look at, and the odd clearing where you can breathe easier. It's not dramatic or famous - no waterfalls, no castle ruins, no ancient monuments. What it is, though, is a proper escape. Walkers will appreciate the quietness. Families with young kids who just want to tire them out will find enough here for an hour or two. Don't expect a car park with facilities or signage - come prepared.

The woodland sits well within a broader Wiltshire walking itinerary. If you're staying at Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park or Malmesbury Glamping at Whychurch Farm - both within five miles - Hare Covert works as a low-key morning or afternoon stretch of the legs between bigger attractions. It's free, obviously. No admission fees for wandering about in the trees.

Best visited when the ground isn't waterlogged. Spring and autumn are decent bets. Bring proper boots and don't assume there's anywhere to buy a coffee afterward. This is somewhere to go if you want woodland and nothing else.