Oldhill Wood

The woodland here stretches across decent acreage just outside Dunstable, offering proper shelter when the Buckinghamshire sun gets too keen or the weather turns drizzly. It's straightforward walking territory - paths wind through mature trees with enough room to move without feeling hemmed in. The ground can get boggy after rain, so boots matter more than trainers.

Walkers will find this worthwhile, especially if you're after a quick leg-stretch rather than a full day out. It's the sort of place where you notice the quiet, where kids can burn off energy without you losing them round every corner. The forest floor is thick enough that pushchairs become a bit of a nightmare, so families with older children fare better here than those with toddlers.

Free access appears to be the case, though the lack of visible infrastructure means it's left fairly wild - no car park, no café, no visitor centre nonsense. You simply turn up and walk. That's either brilliant or slightly awkward depending on your view of things.

If you're staying at Woodlands Caravan Site just half a mile away, or Merlin Farm near Whipsnade Zoo, Oldhill Wood makes a natural morning or late-afternoon addition to your itinerary. It won't take more than an hour or two unless you're genuinely dawdling. The real draw is that it's accessible, unfussy, and does exactly what it says on the tin - a patch of proper woodland within easy reach of your holiday base.