Three Groves Wood

You won't find Three Groves Wood on many tourist itineraries, which is precisely why it's worth seeking out. This woodland sits just outside Stroud in Gloucestershire, offering the sort of quiet, uncluttered walk that gets rarer by the year. The trees are proper old growth - oak and beech mostly - and the floor is soft underfoot, the kind of place where you actually hear birdsong instead of your own footsteps crunching.

It's not a destination in itself, if we're being honest. You won't spend hours here, but that's rather the point. Local walkers and dog owners use it regularly, and for families staying at Middle Lypiatt Glamping or Tobacconist Farm Campsite nearby, it's an easy detour on a morning walk. Children will get a decent amount of exploration done without the sting of a full day out. The woodland connects naturally into other walking routes around Stroud, so you can string together a proper ramble if you're feeling ambitious.

Access appears straightforward from the Stroud end, though there's no obvious visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Bring a map if you're not local - the paths aren't signposted in every direction. Early morning or late afternoon is when you'll have it mostly to yourself, which genuinely improves the experience. It's the sort of place that reminds you why walking holidays work so well in the Cotswolds: not everywhere needs to be famous.