Burcote Wood

A proper woodland walk through Burcote Wood gives you exactly what you'd expect from a Buckinghamshire forest - dense trees, decent paths, and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you left the car behind. It's not vast, so you won't need the whole day, but it's genuine woodland rather than a manicured park stroll.

The wood itself sits near Towcester, and works perfectly if you're camping at one of the nearby sites around Silverstone - Hamilton Fields, Windmill Farm, or Silverstone Farm Campsite are all within striking distance. Families with younger kids will manage fine here; the paths are walkable and it's the sort of place where children actually enjoy being outside rather than asking when you're going home. Serious walkers might find it a bit modest for their purposes, but it's cracking for a two-hour morning outing or an after-lunch stretch of the legs.

You can easily combine this with Silverstone if you're the motorsport type, or use it as a break between exploring the broader Buckinghamshire countryside. The proximity to the holiday parks makes it useful as a ready-made activity without having to plan too far ahead - essential when you've got restless campers on your hands.

Best visited when the ground isn't waterlogged, so spring through autumn beats winter. Admission details weren't readily available, but most woodland areas like this are freely accessible. Allow a couple of hours maximum, longer if you're the type to sit on logs and watch birds.