Millend Wood

You'll want proper walking boots for Millend Wood. It's a genuine working forest near Dursley - not manicured parkland, but actual woodland with decent paths that get muddy when it's been raining. The trees are tall enough that you lose the sky, which is exactly why people come here.

It's the sort of place where walkers actually spend time rather than just pass through. You could easily get two hours out of it if you're not rushing, picking your way between the conifers and deciding which fork in the path to take. There's something satisfying about having options rather than one obvious route beaten into the ground. Families with kids who can manage uneven terrain will do fine here, though very small children might struggle with some of the rougher sections.

The wood sits within easy reach of the Cotswold Water Park to the north and the broader walking options around the Severn Vale. If you're staying at Pepper Pot Caravan Park or Tudor Caravan Park nearby, this beats fighting the crowds at more famous beauty spots. It's free to walk, naturally - you're just moving through woodland.

Go when it's been dry for a few days. The paths become genuinely treacherous after heavy rain, and there's nothing worse than sliding downhill into a holly bush. Mid-week you'll likely have the place mostly to yourself, which is the whole point of coming to somewhere like this rather than staying on manicured trails.