Benhall Woods and Park

The woods rise up sharply from the edge of Cheltenham, all mature beech and oak with a decent network of paths threading through them. It's the sort of place you stumble into expecting a quick twenty-minute stroll and somehow lose two hours wandering between the trees. The park itself sits at the base, open grassland with benches where you can actually see what you're doing - quite different from the shadier woodland above.

This works best for walkers who fancy something steeper than a flat meander, and families with kids old enough to manage a bit of proper climbing. The woodland canopy does the heavy lifting here; if you're after manicured gardens or visitor facilities, look elsewhere. Free to access, no gates, no faffing about. Spring is lovely when the bluebells come through, though November and December have their own appeal once the summer crowds have cleared.

Benhall sits close enough to Cheltenham town centre that you could easily combine it with the racecourse itself or a poke around the Regency architecture. For anyone based at Cheltenham Racecourse Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Enjoy Elmwicke Camping - both within three or four miles - it's a proper option when you want an afternoon away from the site without driving far. The Red Lion Inn Camping & Caravan Park is slightly further out if you want something quieter to base yourself from. Bring proper footwear; the ground gets muddy after rain and the paths are genuinely steep in places.