Worton Wood

The woodland around Worton, just outside Banbury, is proper walking territory - the sort of place where you can disappear for an afternoon without seeing another soul. It's not a manicured country estate or a managed visitor attraction with car parks and tea rooms. This is genuine forest, the kind where you need sturdy boots and don't mind getting a bit muddy.

What you get here are footpaths threading through mature woodland, decent views across the Oxfordshire countryside if you pick the right route, and the kind of quiet that feels increasingly rare these days. Bring a map or download a route beforehand - there's no signposting to speak of, and it's easy to take a wrong turn. The forest works brilliantly for walkers who actually want a proper hike rather than a gentle stroll. Families with younger kids might find it a bit dull after twenty minutes, though older children who enjoy exploring will get stuck in.

Timing-wise, allow two to three hours if you're doing a decent loop. Spring and autumn are best - summer gets sticky with midges in certain spots, and winter can be waterlogged. As for nearby parks, Newton Grove sits just 3.5 miles away, which makes this a natural add-on to a wider holiday in the area. Cotswold View and Cotswold Hills Country Park are also within easy reach if you're basing yourself locally. It costs nothing and opens whenever - that's the beauty of it.