White Wood

White Wood sits just outside Chippenham and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Wiltshire forest - decent walking trails, plenty of shade, and the sort of quiet that makes you remember why you came to the countryside in the first place. It's a proper working woodland rather than some manicured attraction, which means the paths are good but you'll encounter the occasional muddy patch, especially after rain.

Walkers will get the most from it. There's no visitor centre or café, no playground either, so don't bring the kids expecting entertainment beyond trees and fresh air. But if you're after a solid two-hour stomp through woodland where you might spot the occasional deer, this ticks the box. The forest is thick enough that even on busy weekends it feels like you've got the place to yourself.

It's free to access and you can park up and wander for as long as you like. Best visited in spring when the undergrowth isn't quite so heavy, or autumn when the light cuts through properly. Summer can feel a bit oppressive under the canopy.

If you're camped at Plough Lane or The Moors - both within walking distance - this is an obvious morning mission. It won't take the place of a proper day out, but combined with Chippenham's town centre or another woodland spot nearby, it rounds out a forest-focused holiday well enough.