Oversley Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured tourist trap, Oversley Wood sits just outside Alcester and delivers exactly what you'd hope from a Forestry England site - decent paths, mature trees, and the kind of peace that's hard to find these days. The woodland's a mix of broadleaf and conifer, so there's enough variety to keep things interesting without feeling manufactured.

The paths are well-maintained and mostly flat, which means families with younger kids won't spend the whole outing moaning about sore legs. You're looking at a good hour or so for a proper walk, depending on which route you take. There are benches dotted about if you fancy sitting with a flask, and the canopy gets thick enough in summer that it's genuinely cool when everywhere else is baking.

Walkers will get the most from this - it's atmospheric rather than dramatic, and there's something reassuring about a wood that hasn't been tarted up for the Instagram crowd. History buffs might appreciate that you're walking through proper Warwickshire countryside, the kind of landscape that's barely changed in centuries.

It's free to visit, which is brilliant. If you're staying at any of the nearby parks - Wixford Grange is closest at just over a mile away - this makes a solid half-day option alongside exploring Alcester itself. Not a destination in its own right, but exactly the sort of place you slot in when you're based locally and want a decent stretch of the legs.