New Covert

The woodland at New Covert stretches across several hundred acres near Fairford, giving you proper space to walk without seeing another soul for hours. It's mixed broadleaf forest - oak, ash, beech - the sort of place where the light filters through in golden shafts if you time it right in late afternoon. The trails are well-marked and manageable, though a few sections get boggy in winter.

This works best for serious walkers rather than casual strollers. You won't find picnic tables or facilities, so come prepared. Allow at least two hours to feel you've actually explored it rather than rushed through. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter and moss, especially lovely in autumn when the canopy turns copper and gold. Bird watchers tend to do well here too - I spotted nuthatches and greater spotted woodpeckers within the first mile.

If you're based at Burford Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite five miles south, New Covert makes an excellent morning or afternoon outing to stretch your legs away from the crowds. It's free to walk, no gates or barriers, though you'll want proper boots and should check conditions after rain. The nearby market town of Fairford has decent facilities and pubs for afterwards, which helps justify the detour. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends bring mountain bikers.