National Trust - The Chase

The Chase is a sprawling National Trust estate just outside Newbury where you can properly lose an afternoon wandering through woodland and open parkland. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow pace - bring a map, leave your phone on silent, and let yourself get a bit turned around on the paths.

What you get here is genuinely ancient landscape. Beech woods, heath, and open grassland roll across several hundred acres, with the bones of centuries still visible if you know where to look. There are marked trails of varying length, so you're not committed to a full hike if you don't fancy one. Families with younger kids will manage fine on the shorter routes; walkers after something more substantial can push deeper into the estate and easily spend three hours without retracing steps.

You'll want a solid hour minimum, though two is better. The appeal here isn't really Instagram moments - it's the walk itself. Woodland paths in autumn are particularly good, and spring's a different beast entirely. Winter? Quiet and atmospheric.

Staying at Hollington Park Glamping just down the road means you can duck out for an hour's exploration without it dominating your day, then return for something proper to eat. Bishops Green Farm and Cherry Bird Country Park are also within easy striking distance, so The Chase works well as part of a broader explore of the area rather than a standalone destination.