Stoke Bushes

Stoke Bushes is a proper woodland walk on the outskirts of Bicester - nothing fancy, just a decent stretch of forest where you can actually breathe without crowds. The paths wind through mixed woodland with enough space to feel like you've genuinely escaped, even though you're minutes from town. It's the sort of place where you notice things: the light filtering through oak and beech, the occasional clearing, the kind of quiet you don't get in most of Oxfordshire.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a destination in itself - you're not looking at views that'll make your phone blow up - but it's a solid two to three hour circuit if you're after a proper woodland stomp. Families with older kids who don't mind mud will be fine; younger children might find it a bit samey after the first half hour. There's no obvious facilities or visitor centre that I can find, and it's free to access.

If you're staying at Barton Hill Farm or Glebe Leisure, both within a couple of miles, Stoke Bushes makes a decent half-day addition to a caravan park break. You're not rearranging your itinerary to come here, but if you're based nearby and the weather's decent, it's worth the short drive. The woodland's honest and unpretentious - which is exactly why it works.