Bennett's Spinney

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured tourist trap - Bennett's Spinney sits just outside Stroud and delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Tall conifers mixed with deciduous trees create a canopy that keeps things cool even on stuffy summer days, and the paths are straightforward enough for families with younger kids but interesting enough that you won't feel like you're trudging through a municipal park.

The real draw is the peace. You'll hear birdsong, the occasional rustle in the undergrowth, and not much else. It's the kind of place where you can actually think, which sounds daft but becomes precious after a weekend of motorway service stations. Expect forty minutes to an hour if you're taking it steady - longer if you're the type to stop and identify every species of fern.

For walkers based at Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park or Malmesbury Glamping, this makes an easy morning excursion before heading into Stroud proper for lunch. It's not going to blow your mind with viewpoints or dramatic ravines, but it's free, it's accessible, and it does the job. Kids will either love hunting for insects and fallen branches or get restless after twenty minutes - depends entirely on your lot.

Worth fitting in if you're doing a circuit of the area, but don't rearrange your itinerary specially for it. Go on a weekday if you can; weekends bring dog walkers and the spell gets slightly broken.