Fox Covert

Walking into Fox Covert feels like stepping into proper woodland - dense trees, dappled light filtering through the canopy, the whole place smelling of damp earth and leaf litter. It's a forest block just outside Swindon, so don't expect anything remote or dramatic, but if you're after an easy woodland walk without the two-hour drive to the Cotswolds, this does the job.

The paths are straightforward enough for families with younger kids, though it's muddy in places after rain. Birdwatchers come here regularly and seem to spot things the rest of us miss. The main appeal is having somewhere green to stretch your legs when you're staying at Great Farm or Second Chance Touring - both are within five miles. You're looking at thirty minutes to an hour for a decent walk, depending on how many times you stop to listen to the woodland.

There's nothing fancy going on - no visitor centre, no facilities that I could find, no interpretation boards. It's just trees and paths. Bring your own entertainment in that sense. Not a destination in itself, but genuinely useful if you're based nearby and the weather's half decent. Kids who like climbing on fallen logs will have a better time than those expecting swings or a café. Worth a morning if you've got a caravan parked up locally and fancy getting outside the pitch.