Remenham Wood

The walk through Remenham Wood, just outside Henley-on-Thames, is a proper tonic if you want to escape the riverside crowds without going far. Ancient beech and oak tower overhead, and the forest floor is soft underfoot even in dry weather - that's the chalk soil doing its work. You're looking at roughly 45 minutes to an hour threading through the main routes, depending on whether you dawdle.

This is walker territory, full stop. Families with young kids will manage fine on the clearer paths, but buggies are a non-starter and there's not much here to hold a four-year-old's attention beyond "look, a big tree". History buffs get something too - the woodland has been managed for centuries, and you can read that in how it's structured. Locals come for the quiet rather than any dramatic views or facilities.

It's free, naturally, and there's parking nearby if you know where to look (ask at the Henley tourist office). Autumn is the obvious choice, though winter walking when the trees are bare gives you better sightlines. Summer can get muggy under the canopy.

If you're based at SRB Moorings or Shillingridge Glamping - both excellent stops, those - Remenham slots in nicely as a morning sortie before lunch in town. It's not going to blow your mind, but as a forest walk it's honest and well-maintained. Worth a detour if you've got wheels and need to stretch your legs properly.