Hazel Wood

The woodland around Hazel Wood near Wallingford is the sort of place that creeps up on you. You're walking through beech and oak, the ground soft with leaf litter, and suddenly you realise you've lost sight of the road entirely. It's proper quiet in there.

This is a straightforward forest walk rather than a managed attraction with facilities or entrance fees. The trees are mature and the paths meander through without much faffing about - decent for an hour or so if you're based at Cholsey Grange CL nearby. Families with young kids will manage fine on the flatter sections, though it can get a bit muddy after rain. Adults after a proper walk will find it satisfying enough, especially if you're keen on woodland birds and don't need dramatic views to keep you interested.

There's nothing here that requires advance planning. No admission charge as far as we can tell, no set hours. The sort of place you turn up to when you fancy stretching your legs between other activities in the area. Combine it with a visit to Wallingford itself - the market town's worth an afternoon - and you've got a decent local loop.

It's not going to blow your mind. The woodland is pleasant rather than spectacular, the kind of green space that does its job without any bells and whistles. But that's rather the point if you're staying in a caravan nearby and just want somewhere proper to walk without having to drive miles.