Holly Grove

Walk into Holly Grove and you're immediately under a thick canopy of ancient hollies and mixed woodland - the sort of place that feels properly removed from the world even though Henley-on-Thames is just a few miles down the road. It's a small forest, nothing vast, but that's rather the point. You can work your way through it in an hour or so, following whatever paths appeal, and come out feeling like you've actually been somewhere rather than ticked a box.

The woodland here is dense enough that it works well for families with younger kids who don't need epic distances - there's enough to explore without the usual "are we there yet" complaints kicking in after twenty minutes. Walkers will appreciate it as a pleasant diversion if you're exploring the Henley area, though it's not dramatic terrain. History types might find the old woodland management interesting, but this isn't a site with plaques and interpretive panels.

Being so close to the camping options around Henley - Swiss Farm and Henley Four Oaks are both under four miles away - it makes an easy morning walk before heading back for lunch. The Chilterns View and Ridgeway View are slightly further but still reasonable drives. It's the sort of place that slots neatly into a broader park holiday rather than being a destination in itself, which is honest feedback rather than criticism. Real woodland, proper trees, no crowds. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.