New Plantation

Just outside Faringdon, New Plantation is a proper woodland walk through deciduous trees and open glades - the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a working forest rather than some manicured country estate, which means it feels genuine. The paths are well-maintained but you're walking through actual woodland, not a theme park version of it.

For walkers, this delivers. An hour to ninety minutes is about right depending on how many wrong turns you take - the signage could be clearer, to be honest. Families with older kids will get on fine here; younger ones might lose interest once the novelty of trees wears off. History types won't find much to excite them, but if you're after fresh air and space, it does the job.

There's no obvious visitor centre or facilities, so it's worth bringing water and checking conditions after heavy rain. Free access as far as I can tell, though you should confirm before you go.

The real appeal comes if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Faringdon Grange is closest at under three miles, or The Real Campsite further out at six miles. It's a solid add-on to a Cotswolds holiday rather than a destination in itself. Come here to stretch your legs between other attractions, not expecting anything spectacular. The woodland is nice enough, but it's no Wytham Woods or Symonds Yat.