Hulin's Wood

Walk into Hulin's Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - the sort of place where the canopy blocks out half the sky and the ground squelches underfoot even when it hasn't rained for days. It's a genuine forest rather than a manicured nature reserve, which means you get the good stuff: towering trees, dappled light, the occasional surprise of a small clearing where the forest floor opens up.

This is the place for people who actually want to walk rather than pose. Families with kids old enough to manage uneven terrain will get a solid couple of hours out of it, though younger ones might flag - there are no convenient loops or facilities to speak of, just woodland. Walkers will appreciate the proper forest feel, though don't expect marked trails or interpretation boards explaining what you're looking at.

It's free to wander in (as far as we can tell - there's no visitor centre or entrance fee), and it's close enough to Gloucester that you can slot it into a day trip without faffing about. The advantage of staying at Passage Farm Caravan & Campsite just down the road is you're minutes away, so you could do an early morning walk before the day gets too warm. If you're based at one of the other parks - Apple Orchard or The Roost Retreats - you're looking at a short drive, which is entirely worth it if you're after some proper woodland time rather than another manicured country park experience.