The Belt

The Belt is a proper woodland walk just outside Wingrave, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a mixed forest - deciduous trees mostly, with patches of conifer - running through the Buckinghamshire countryside in a way that feels far more remote than it actually is. You won't find visitor facilities or marked trails here; this is proper walking territory, not a theme park with benches every hundred metres.

The appeal is straightforward. If you're staying at Wingbury Farm Glamping or Hill Farm And Orchard and want to stretch your legs without driving anywhere, The Belt delivers. It's fine for families with older kids who can manage uneven ground and muddy patches. Younger children might lose interest after an hour, if that. History buffs won't find much to grab hold of - no ruins, no plaques, just trees doing what trees do.

Walkers and dog owners are the real winners here. The woodland offers genuine peace, and the paths wind through enough variation to stop it feeling monotonous. Wear proper boots though - it gets boggy in wet weather, and there's nothing worse than squelching about in trainers.

Time-wise, allow 90 minutes for a decent loop if you're ambling. Entry is free, naturally, since there's nobody to charge you. Go midweek if you can; weekends pull in the local dog-walking brigade, which rather defeats the point. Summer's lovely, but autumn when the light filters through properly is when this place actually shows what it's got.