Long Plantation

Long Plantation is a proper working forest just outside Chippenham, the sort of place you'll stumble upon if you're exploring the quieter corners of Wiltshire. It's coniferous woodland - dense, dark, and excellent for a woodland walk if you need to stretch your legs between camping trips at nearby sites like The Retreat Glamping or Roe Deer Fields.

There's not much here in terms of facilities or visitor infrastructure, which is actually rather the point. You get trees, footpaths, and peace. The forest offers decent walking territory for families who don't mind muddy boots and don't expect tea rooms or interpretive signs. If your kids are the type to enjoy spotting wildlife and building dens, they'll get an hour or two out of it. Adults after a proper woodland hike might find it a touch limited - it's more of a pleasant detour than a destination in itself.

Access details are thin on the ground, so check locally before you visit. There's no admission fee that we can find, and it won't eat up hours of your holiday. Think of it as a nice break during a wider tour of the area rather than a reason to book accommodation specially near Chippenham.

Given the cluster of campsites within a couple of miles - The Moors Campsite and Plough Lane among them - Long Plantation works well as a quiet morning walk before heading into town or pushing on towards Malmesbury. It's accessible, free, and does exactly what it says on the tin.