Shrubs Wood

Walking into Shrubs Wood feels like stepping properly off the beaten path - which is rare in Buckinghamshire. It's a genuine woodland, not the manicured kind, with decent-sized trees, a network of paths that actually go somewhere, and the kind of quiet you don't get near Buckingham town centre.

The wood itself is manageable on foot. There's enough ground to cover that you won't feel cheated after half an hour, but it's not so vast that families with younger kids will struggle. The paths are mostly clear, though they can get muddy after rain - proper country mud, the kind that sticks. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right. Autumn's when the light gets interesting between the trees.

Walkers will find this genuinely worthwhile. It's the kind of place where you can actually breathe, away from roads and crowds. History types might appreciate that this corner of Buckinghamshire has always been woodland - it's not been papered over like so much of the county. Kids will get an hour or two out of it, particularly if they're the sort to poke around looking for wildlife.

Camp at nearby Embers Camping in Claydon and you've got this on your doorstep for a quick morning walk or a longer afternoon ramble. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so come prepared. It's free, naturally - just woodland access. Go early or late in the day if you want solitude.