Pigeonhouse Wood

The woodland near Marlow called Pigeonhouse Wood is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for, which is exactly when it works best. It's a proper walk-through forest with decent footpaths, the kind where you can actually hear yourself think after ten minutes away from the car park. The trees are thick enough that even on a sunny day there's good shade, and the forest floor is soft underfoot - no concrete nonsense here.

Walkers will get the most out of it, particularly those doing a longer loop around the Marlow area rather than stopping for just half an hour. The woodland itself doesn't have viewpoints or ruins or anything dramatic - it's just trees and paths and the occasional clearing. Some people find that dull. I found it calming, which after a week at any of the nearby parks (Shillingridge Glamping is close by, as is SRB Moorings if you're bringing the caravan) you'll probably appreciate.

Allow about an hour for a proper wander. Spring's best for bluebells if you time it right, autumn for the leaf colour. The nearest town is Marlow itself - charming market town stuff - so you could combine this with a riverside walk and actually have a proper day out. Free to access, no facilities that I could find, so bring water if it's warm. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes, but proper woodland enthusiasts and serious walkers should add it to their list.