High Scrubs

The beech woods around High Scrubs sprawl across the Buckinghamshire countryside near Tring, offering proper woodland walking without the crowds you'd get at more famous spots. It's the kind of place where the forest floor stays soft underfoot year-round, roots and fallen leaves creating natural stepping stones through the trees. The canopy does its job well - even on wet days, you stay reasonably dry under the dense cover.

This works best for walkers after a proper woodland experience, though families with older kids will find it pleasant enough for an afternoon. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is actually refreshing. You just turn up, park sensibly, and walk. The woodland floor is relatively flat, so it's not a slog, but there are enough winding paths to make it feel like you're actually exploring rather than tramping along a marked route.

If you're camping at Hill Farm or Norcott Campsite - both within a couple of miles - this is a solid way to stretch your legs without driving far. Bring proper boots if it's been wet. The paths aren't maintained to any particular standard, which means they're sometimes muddy and occasionally faint, but that's part of the appeal. Come in spring when the bluebells show, or autumn when the light filters through gold and copper. Summer can feel a bit airless and insecty under all that leaf cover.