Shillingridge Wood

The woodland around Shillingridge feels properly wild for somewhere so close to Marlow - dense enough that you lose the road noise within minutes, yet genuinely accessible for an afternoon walk. Beech and oak dominate, with enough open rides between the trees to keep things interesting rather than claustrophobic. You won't find manicured paths or visitor facilities here; this is the kind of place you just wander through, stopping when something catches your eye - a clearing, a stream, an old tree worth photographing.

Walkers get the most from it, particularly those happy to improvise their own route rather than follow marked trails. The terrain is manageable underfoot unless it's been raining hard, when it can get boggy. Kids will enjoy it for an hour or so if they're the exploratory type; families wanting structured attractions should look elsewhere. There's proper forest air and quietness - increasingly rare around here.

It's free to access and there's no obvious entrance or car park, which speaks volumes about how little commercialised this place has become. Allow ninety minutes to two hours if you're not in a hurry. The wood works well as a morning break if you're based at Shillingridge Glamping just down the road, or as a breathing space between time on the Thames at nearby Marlow and the holiday parks clustered around Hurley and Henley. Don't expect signage or facilities. Bring proper footwear and an OS map if you're not familiar with the area.