Lowerfield Wood

The woodland floor here is thick with moss and last season's leaves - proper spongy underfoot. Lowerfield Wood is a straightforward Oxfordshire forest that rewards walkers with quiet trails and the kind of peace you actually struggle to find on a Sunday afternoon. There's nothing flashy about it, which is rather the point.

You're looking at a mixed woodland with decent enough footpaths running through. Bring binoculars if you're into spotting birds - the canopy attracts woodpeckers and nuthatches if you're patient. The light filters through nicely in spring when the bluebells are out, though you'll need to time it right. Summer's pleasant too, assuming the undergrowth hasn't grown over the paths since I last checked.

Families with young children will manage fine if they're used to a bit of uneven terrain. Older kids happy to poke about in the undergrowth, less so if they need constant stimulation. Serious walkers would pair this with other woodland nearby - it's more of a morning jaunt than a full day's expedition.

The nearest proper base is Botswicky Copse, where Nordic Glamping sits just 2.6 miles away - if you want to combine forest walks with actually decent accommodation, that's your answer. The 5-star rating tells you something. Faringdon Grange is another option a touch further out if you prefer traditional park holidays.

Head here outside school holidays if you want solitude. Bring decent footwear - wet wood is slippery. Free admission, as far as I can establish, though facilities are minimal.