Hay Wood

Dense canopy stretches for miles around this proper working woodland just outside Ross-on-Wye, where ancient oaks mingle with newer plantings in a landscape that feels genuinely wild. The paths aren't marked or maintained - this isn't a manicured forest park but proper countryside where you'll need decent boots and a sense of direction.

Families with younger children might struggle here as there are no facilities and the terrain can be boggy after rain. It's really one for experienced walkers who fancy a bit of exploration without the crowds you'll find at more famous Wye Valley spots. The silence is remarkable once you're deep enough in.

You could easily spend a couple of hours here if you're staying at one of the nearby sites like Haywood Farm Caravan and Camping Park, which sits practically on the doorstep. The wood makes for a lovely morning walk before heading into Ross-on-Wye for supplies or tackling the bigger attractions along the river.

Don't expect signposted trails or interpretation boards - Hay Wood is refreshingly uncommercialised. Whether that's a blessing or frustration depends entirely on what you're after. If you want proper woodland wandering without the tourist trail polish, it delivers.