Hockeridge Wood

Walk into Hockeridge Wood and you'll find yourself under a proper canopy of beech and oak, with the ground soft underfoot even weeks after rain. It's managed by the Royal Forestry Society, which means the paths are generally well-maintained and actually signposted - a relief when you're navigating the Chilterns. The wood sits just outside Chesham, making it an easy reach for anyone staying at the local campsites like Norcott or Highridge Farm.

This is walker territory, plain and simple. The trails meander through mixed woodland that feels genuinely wild without being inaccessible, and there are enough subtle ups and downs to keep it interesting without turning into a slog. You could spend anywhere from 45 minutes on a quick loop to two hours if you're the type who stops to examine fungi and listen for nuthatches. Children will enjoy it if they're the exploring kind rather than the entertainment-demanding kind.

There's no entry fee that I'm aware of, and no facilities on site - so come prepared with a packed lunch if you're making an afternoon of it. The wood's at its most atmospheric in autumn when the beech leaves turn bronze, though spring bluebells are undeniably lovely. Summer can feel a bit muggy under the thick canopy.

As part of a Buckinghamshire camping holiday, it pairs well with the wider Chiltern walking network. You're close enough to Chesham town for supplies, but far enough out that it feels like genuine countryside. If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots, this is the kind of place you'll end up returning to more than once.