Lemington Coppice

The woodland around Lemington Coppice offers a proper escape into Gloucestershire's quieter side, just a short drive from Moreton-in-Marsh. Walking through here, you get that mix of ancient oak and younger growth that tells you this has been managed as working woodland for centuries - the coppiced hazel and sweet chestnut are still harvested, which keeps the forest floor open and light rather than dark and suffocating.

It's the sort of place where you notice things. Dappled light through the canopy. The smell of damp earth after rain. Paths that meander rather than march straight through. If you're after long vistas and dramatic views, look elsewhere - this is intimate woodland, best appreciated slowly on foot.

Walkers will find it genuinely rewarding. The coppice sits at a decent altitude which means the ground doesn't turn into a bog in winter, and the varied ages of trees mean bird life is decent year-round. Children might enjoy spotting the old coppice stools - massive stumps where the same trees have been cut repeatedly over generations. Adults who like woodland ecology will geek out properly.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared. Allow two to three hours for a decent wander. The nearest base is Moreton-in-Marsh, and if you're staying at Experience Freedom Glamping just outside town, this makes an excellent half-day addition to a wider Cotswold walking holiday. It's not showy, but it's genuine.