Lew's Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured tourist spot, Lew's Copse sits just outside Wantage in Berkshire and gives you that genuine forest feeling without the crowds. The trees are dense enough that you actually feel removed from the outside world, which is rare this close to the Oxfordshire border. You're looking at a mix of established woodland - oaks, beeches, the usual suspects - with a network of paths that loop through without being overly signposted or groomed. It's the sort of place where you genuinely might get temporarily turned around, which sounds annoying but actually adds to the appeal if you like a bit of genuine exploration.

Walkers will get the most mileage here. It's not a Sunday stroll destination - the paths can be muddy, there's real terrain, and you need to pay attention. An hour or so is reasonable if you're doing a circuit, longer if you're the type who stops to identify things. Families with young kids might find it a touch underwhelming after twenty minutes unless they're keen on mud and sticks, which some absolutely are. History buffs won't find much to sink their teeth into - it's woodland, not ruins. The beauty is in the woodland itself: the dappled light, the quietness, the way the forest just gets on with being a forest.

If you're staying at Lorne Hill Farm, just six miles away, this works as a proper morning walk before heading elsewhere for lunch. Bring boots. Check the weather - this place shows its mood. Free to access, naturally, being a stretch of actual woodland.