Rogues Plantation

Walking into Rogues Plantation feels like stepping into proper woodland - dense trees, dappled light, the sort of place where you half-expect to bump into someone up to no good, hence the name. It's a forest in the Windsor and Maidenhead area, just outside Marlow, and it's the kind of spot that rewards a decent ramble rather than a quick stroll.

The woodland itself isn't huge, but it's well-maintained enough for a solid hour or two of walking. Paths wind through the trees, and it's the sort of place where you can actually lose yourself a bit, which is rare this close to the Home Counties. The canopy's thick enough to make it pleasant even on warmer days, though winter walks are probably better for seeing what the forest is actually made of.

Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers - it's not a destination in itself, more of a proper forest walk. History types might be interested in the name's origins, though don't expect interpretation boards spelling it out. Walkers heading out from Marlow will find it a natural extension to a riverside walk.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites like Hurley Riverside Park or Chiltern Retreat, Rogues Plantation makes a decent day out to break up the holiday. It's free access and there's no particular best time to visit, though spring when the woodland floor starts waking up is genuinely worth timing your trip for. Don't expect facilities - this is a proper walk in the woods, nothing more.