Blackwater Wood

Blackwater Wood sits on the eastern fringe of Oxford, a proper working forest rather than a manicured nature reserve. You're walking through actual woodland here - dense enough that you lose sight of the city within minutes, though you're never more than a short drive away.

It's the kind of place where you wander rather than follow a set route. Oak and beech dominate, with enough undergrowth to make it feel genuinely wild. Dog walkers clearly love it, and families with kids who don't need everything explained will get hours out of exploring the various paths that crisscross through. There's no playground, no café, no visitor centre - which is either exactly what you want or a bit disappointing depending on your mood.

The wood works well as a half-day excursion if you're staying at Weston Caravan and Campsite, just five miles away. You could easily combine it with a mooch around Oxford's colleges or Port Meadow if you're after a longer outing. Allow two to three hours if you're properly exploring rather than just bashing through.

Come in autumn when the canopy colours are proper brilliant. Spring's decent too for bluebells if you time it right. Summer can feel a bit thick and buggy, and winter's muddy - bring proper boots unless you fancy squelching. There's no admission charge and no visitor facilities that I could find, so just turn up and get your boots on.