Downend Coppice

The woodland around Downend Coppice, just outside Gloucester, is proper old-growth forest - the kind where you can actually hear yourself think. Ancient oaks and mixed broadleaves create a proper canopy overhead, and the paths are well-trodden enough that you won't spend half your time bushwhacking. It's a straightforward walk, nothing dramatic, but there's something about being surrounded by trees that've been here for centuries.

This works best for people who just want a decent woodland ramble without the faffing about. Kids will enjoy it if they're the type to poke around in undergrowth looking for insects and fallen branches - if they need playground equipment or a visitor centre, you'll be disappointed. Walkers doing circuits between Gloucester and the surrounding countryside will find it a natural leg of the journey.

The whole loop takes somewhere between one and two hours depending on your pace and how much you stop. Go on a weekday morning and you'll likely have the place largely to yourself, which is the real appeal. Weekends pull in the local dog-walking brigade, which is fine but takes the edge off the peace.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Croft Farm Water Park is about five miles away - this makes a good half-morning expedition before heading elsewhere. It's not a destination in itself, but it's a solid addition to a Forest of Dean or Cotswolds break. The lack of facilities means you'll want to bring a drink and something to eat.