Dripshill Wood

Ancient oaks tower overhead as you step into this proper old-growth woodland just outside Malvern. Dripshill Wood feels genuinely wild - the sort of place where you might spot a red kite circling or catch sight of deer picking their way through the bracken.

Families with energetic children will find plenty to explore here. The woodland paths aren't signposted like some sanitised country parks, which actually adds to the adventure. Kids love scrambling over fallen logs and hunting for interesting fungi, though parents should keep an eye on the terrain - it can get muddy after rain.

Dog walkers get proper value here too. The wood offers that increasingly rare thing: genuine countryside where your four-legged friend can have a proper sniff about without dodging mountain bikers or dodging between picnic tables.

Expect to spend a good hour here if you're having a proper explore, though you could easily make it longer if the weather's decent. The wood works well as a morning activity before heading back to one of the nearby holiday parks like Riverside Caravan Park or Blackmore Camping site. It's the sort of place that reminds you why the Malvern area draws people back year after year - real countryside that hasn't been packaged up and presented with interpretation boards.