Greenaways Wood

The Forest of Dean sprawls across Gloucestershire like a proper wilderness, and Greenaways Wood is one of its quieter corners - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a straightforward woodland walk with decent paths that wind through mixed forest, perfect for blowing away cobwebs without needing a detailed route plan.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The trails are manageable rather than punishing, so it suits families with kids who've got a few miles in their legs but don't fancy a five-hour slog. Dog walkers love it too - plenty of space to let them loose on the wider stretches. The canopy is thick enough that it's genuinely cool even on sticky summer days, which makes a real difference when you're trying to tire out a hyperactive spaniel.

Head here in autumn if you can manage it. The light filters through the turning leaves in that golden way that makes you understand why people bang on about English woodlands. Spring's decent too - bluebells if you're lucky, though the timing's always a bit dodgy. Summer brings midges to the Forest of Dean, worth knowing about.

It's free to wander in, which is the main appeal. Ross-on-Wye sits just a couple of miles away, handy for lunch or supplies. If you're camped at somewhere like Haywood Farm or Pelerine, both within spitting distance, this makes an easy morning jaunt before heading elsewhere. Not the flashiest attraction in the Forest, but genuinely good for getting some fresh air and space without the crowds you'd find at the bigger destinations.