Forge Wood

The Forest of Dean sprawls across Gloucestershire like something from a fairy tale, and Forge Wood is one of its quieter corners - a proper woodland walk rather than a tourist hotspot. You're looking at mixed woodland typical of the area: ancient oaks, conifers, and enough green to remind you why people move to the Cotswolds.

It's the kind of place where you actually hear yourself think. The paths wind through the trees with enough variation that you won't feel like you're trudging the same loop twice. Dog walkers absolutely love it, and families with kids who can manage a couple of hours of uneven ground will find plenty to keep them occupied - stream crossings, bits of woodland to explore off the main path, the usual forest discoveries.

Coming from Coleford, it's a few minutes' drive into the Forest, which means if you're camped at Bracelands or Greenacres, you can be among the trees without much faffing about. The appeal isn't in any particular attraction or visitor facility - there aren't any - but in the peace of being properly in the woods rather than on a gravel path between picnic benches.

Allow a couple of hours for a decent wander. Go on a weekday if you can, especially autumn when the light filtering through the trees turns everything amber. It's free, naturally, and exactly what you need after a few days of scheduled activities at the holiday parks nearby.