Soudley Ponds

Three ponds sitting quietly in the Forest of Dean, just outside Gloucester - and they're genuinely worth the detour if you're camping nearby. Soudley is the sort of place where you can spend a solid afternoon without feeling you've wasted the petrol, though it's not going to blow your mind either.

You get a proper walk around the water, plenty of birdlife if you're into that sort of thing, and the forest setting means it feels a world away from the caravan park. The ponds themselves are fed by a stream, so there's actual movement to the water rather than stagnant green soup. Families with younger kids do well here - the paths are manageable, ducks keep children entertained, and you're not hiking for miles just to see something ordinary.

Walkers and nature types will get more from it than casual tourists. The area's popular with photographers chasing reflected light on the water, especially early morning. If you're staying at Passage Farm, West End Farm, or any of the other sites dotted around the 3-4 mile radius, it's an excellent half-day outing that breaks up the routine of park life.

Allow two to three hours. It's free, accessible year-round, though spring and early autumn are when the light works best. The Forest of Dean has enough going on - Symonds Yat, Puzzle Wood, the various walks - that Soudley fits in nicely as part of a longer itinerary rather than a standalone destination.