Coldra Wood

The trees here are proper dense, which means even on a bright day the woodland floor stays cool and shadowy. Coldra Wood sits just outside Chepstow in Monmouthshire, and it's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a tick-box visit.

You're walking through mixed deciduous woodland - oak, ash, beech - with a stream running through parts of it. The paths are well-trodden but can get muddy after rain, so decent boots are sensible. It's not vast, but it's big enough that you won't feel hemmed in, and there are enough side trails to make getting a bit lost quite easy if you're not paying attention to where you came from.

This works well for families with kids old enough to manage uneven ground without constant hand-holding, and for anyone after a proper woodland walk without the crowds of more famous spots. Dog walkers love it. History buffs might be interested to know Chepstow Castle is nearby - you could tie the two together on an afternoon. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're taking your time, less if you're marching straight through.

If you're staying at Penhein Glamping six miles away, this makes a solid morning outing before heading back for lunch. It's free to access, which is always welcome. The main drawback is it can feel a bit samey if you're there in dead winter when everything's bare - spring and autumn hit different here, with proper light filtering through the canopy.