Oaksey bluebell woods

The bluebells at Oaksey transform the woodland floor into something properly magical come late April and May. Walking through here when they're in full bloom is genuinely worth timing your Wiltshire trip around - the carpet of violet-blue stretches between the trees and the smell hits you before you've gone fifty metres in.

It's a nature reserve, so don't expect manicured paths or visitor facilities. What you get instead is the real thing: proper woodland with bluebells doing what they do naturally. The walk itself is gentle enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might lose interest after an hour or so unless they're really into spotting insects and birds. History types will appreciate that this corner of Wiltshire has been woodland for centuries.

There's no entrance fee and no set visiting hours, which means you can turn up whenever suits you - though obviously the flowers dictate when you'll actually see anything worth the journey. Allow a couple of hours if you want to properly wander rather than rush through.

Based near Malmesbury, it works well alongside other walks in the area. If you're staying at Malmesbury Glamping at Whychurch Farm or Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park, you're within easy striking distance for a morning or afternoon outing. The nearby market town has decent cafes for afterwards, which is handy because there's nothing at the woods themselves.