Withington Woods

The woods stretch across a decent chunk of the Cotswolds just outside Cirencester, and they're genuinely worth an afternoon if you're staying in the area. It's proper woodland walking territory - mixed broadleaf and conifer, the kind of place where you can actually lose the sound of traffic within five minutes of leaving the car park. The paths wind through decent canopy, and in autumn the floor gets properly carpeted with leaves, which makes for satisfying walking. Spring's lovely too if the bluebells are out.

Families with decent-legged kids will get two or three hours out of it without too much grumbling. The terrain's relatively gentle - it's not challenging stuff, just pleasant ambling through the trees. Older walkers and anyone after some genuine forest quiet will appreciate it more than people expecting dramatic viewpoints or heritage features. There really aren't any, which is both the point and the drawback depending on what you want.

If you're basecamp at Bourton-on-the-Water Caravan and Motorhome Club about six miles away, this makes for a proper alternative to tramping through the village itself on a busy weekend. You'll get fresh air and actual solitude, which is rarer than you'd think in this part of the Cotswolds. Go early to avoid the weekend crush, and bring decent boots if it's been wet - the woodland floor gets boggy. It's free to wander, though car park details aren't certain, so check before you head out.