Pavis Wood

The walk up Pavis Wood rewards you with one of those unexpected viewpoints that makes you grateful you bothered with the climb. It's a proper Chilterns wood - the kind where you're surrounded by beech and oak, with enough elevation to feel like proper countryside rather than someone's back garden. From the top, you get views across Tring and beyond, which on a clear day actually justify the effort.

This is walker territory, really. It's not a destination in itself - you're not turning up for an afternoon of wandering about aimlessly. You're climbing it as part of a loop, ideally from Tring town itself or from one of the Chilterns footpaths that criss-cross the area. The woodland is pleasant but unremarkable until you clear the tree line and get the views. Allow an hour or so for the ascent and a bit of poking about, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to catch your breath.

If you're camping at Hill Farm, just over a mile away, or any of the other sites scattered round here - Norcott or Chiltern Yurts - this makes a solid morning walk before you settle in. The Chilterns are all about these modest peaks and wooded ridges, and Pavis Wood fits perfectly into that pattern. It's not dramatic, but it's honest work and the views at the top make it worthwhile. Bring decent boots though - it can be muddy.