Warburg Nature Reserve Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

You'll need proper boots for this one. Warburg Nature Reserve sprawls across 226 acres of mixed woodland, grassland and scrub just outside Watlington, and it's the sort of place where you actually see things - woodpeckers, nuthatches, the occasional sparrowhawk cutting across the canopy. The reserve is run by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, and they've done the hard work of maintaining the trails and keeping the habitat diverse enough that it changes with the seasons.

Walkers will get the most from it. There's a decent network of paths threading through the woodland, ranging from gentle loops to proper climbs up to the higher ground where views open out across the Chilterns. It's not a stroll-round-in-an-afternoon kind of place - allow a good two hours if you want to explore properly without rushing. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars; the spring migration is particularly good if you can time it right.

Families with young kids might find it a bit relentless underfoot, though there are easier sections near the entrance. You won't find benches or facilities dotted about, so come prepared. Admission is free, which is brilliant.

Stay at one of the nearby campsites around Henley or Cholsey - Swiss Farm or White Mark Glamping are within easy reach - and you can combine this with walks across the wider Chilterns landscape. It's proper countryside rather than a tourist attraction, which is exactly why it's worth the drive.