Grange Brake

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Grange Brake sits just outside Cheltenham and delivers exactly what you want from a forest - quiet paths, decent tree cover, and the kind of peace you've earned after a morning in the town centre. The woodland's modest in size, so you're not talking a full-day expedition, but it's the sort of place that rewards a gentle wander with glimpses of natural Gloucestershire that tourists usually miss.

The paths wind through mixed woodland with enough variation to keep legs interested without demanding fell-walker fitness. Depending on how lost you're willing to get, you can clock anything from thirty minutes to ninety minutes here. It's fine for families with younger children, though there's nothing specifically set up for them - no playgrounds or interpretation boards, just trees and earth and the occasional bird sound.

If you're camping at Bourton-on-the-Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just down the road, Grange Brake works as a morning addition to your itinerary rather than the main event. Same goes if you're at Cotswolds Meadow Glamping - close enough for a quick leg-stretch without burning an entire afternoon. Cheltenham itself is the nearest proper town, so you could easily combine this with a visit into the spa town afterwards.

The main thing to know is that it costs nothing and asks nothing in return. No facilities, no café, no postcard stand. Just show up and walk. Bring proper shoes, mind - it can be boggy after rain.