Paul's Grove

Walking into Paul's Grove feels like stepping into someone's private woodland - the kind of place where the canopy is thick enough that you forget it's summer. It's a proper forest, the sort that rewards wandering rather than following marked trails, though it's small enough that you won't get genuinely lost.

The trees here are mature and well-spaced in parts, which means you'll actually see the wood rather than just pushing through undergrowth. Come in autumn and the floor becomes a carpet of beech mast and leaves. Spring brings bluebells in patches, though don't expect the fairy-tale carpet you'd find in more famous spots near Wallingford.

This isn't a destination in itself - it's the kind of place you slot into a morning walk, perhaps on your way to the Thames Path or exploring Wallingford itself. Twenty minutes to an hour is about right, depending on whether you're just passing through or actually stopping to sit on a log and do nothing.

Families with young children might find it a bit dull without specific features to aim for, but older kids who like proper woods rather than manicured parks will appreciate the space. Walkers using the local paths will likely pass through anyway.

The real value is that it exists - close enough to Ridgeway View Campsite or Rolling Fields Glamping that you can disappear into actual woodland without a long drive. It's the sort of stop that turns a holiday park week into something with texture.