Hays Wood

Walking into Hays Wood near Bradford-on-Avon feels like stepping properly off the beaten path - which is exactly what you want from a Wiltshire forest. The woodland sits on ancient ground, the kind of place where the trees seem to know something you don't, and the paths wind through beech and oak with enough variety to keep you interested for a solid couple of hours.

It's ideal if you're the sort who actually enjoys a walk rather than just tolerating one. The woodland floor is soft underfoot most of the year, and there's enough going on - the odd stream, changes in elevation, different tree densities - to stop it feeling like you're trudging the same route. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might need carrying through some muddier sections after rain.

You won't find facilities or a car park with a gift shop. This is woodland as it comes - bring a packed lunch, wear proper boots, and don't expect phone signal. The quiet is rather the point. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan sites like Widbrook Barns or Marsh Farm, this makes a proper morning or afternoon out without needing to drive anywhere.

Allot two to three hours depending on your pace and whether you potter about. The wood isn't huge but it rewards wandering. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends pull in enough people to make it feel less like an escape. Free, obviously, and open whenever daylight allows.