Hoggen Shaw

Walk into Hoggen Shaw and you're immediately swallowed by proper ancient woodland - the kind with moss-covered logs and enough shade to keep things cool even on a scorcher of a day. It's a relatively compact forest near Wallingford, the sort of place you can do in an hour or so without feeling rushed, though there's no reason you couldn't linger longer if the mood takes you.

The woodland itself is straightforward walking terrain with a decent network of paths threading through beech and oak. It's not dramatic or particularly spectacular - you won't get the kind of views that make you whip your phone out for photos - but there's something genuinely restorative about being under that canopy. Locals use it regularly, which says something. The forest floor is generally well-maintained, making it accessible for families with older kids and reasonably fit adults.

Wallingford sits just five or six miles away, which makes this a logical addition to a broader Buckinghamshire walk if you're based in the area. If you're parked at Cholsey Grange CL, it's a fair drive but worth knowing about for a proper forest day. It's not the sort of place that'll be rammed with tourists - more a working local woodland where you might see dog walkers and the occasional group of friends having a proper think. Expect no facilities whatsoever, so bring water and don't rely on mobile signal working brilliantly. Come midweek if you value peace.