Ashenbury Park

The Thames Valley gets proper quiet once you slip into Ashenbury Park, a nature reserve that rewards the kind of wanderer who actually wants to find something rather than tick it off. You're looking at woodland and wetland that hasn't been manicured to death - the sort of place where you might spot a muntjac deer or catch kingfishers if you're lucky enough and quiet enough.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a casual stroll-round-for-an-hour situation; you need proper footwear and a decent stretch of time to appreciate what's on offer. The trails wind through mixed woodland, and in spring the bluebells are genuinely worth the trip. Birdwatchers will find themselves camped here for half the day, binoculars at the ready.

Families with restless younger children might find it a bit thin on attractions - there's no cafe, no playground, just nature doing its thing. But if your kids are old enough to enjoy a proper woodland walk without complaining every five minutes, it's exactly the kind of place that quiets them down.

Henley-on-Thames sits just six miles away, which means you could easily base yourself at Swiss Farm Touring and Camping or Henley Four Oaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite and have this reserve as a morning outing. The park works best combined with the river itself - do the reserve in the morning, then head into town for lunch. Bring a decent camera if you're into wildlife. And honestly, go off-season if you can. You'll have the paths entirely to yourself.