Upper Selves Wood

Ancient beech trees stretch their gnarled branches overhead as you wander through this woodland just outside Chippenham. Upper Selves Wood is one of those proper old English woods where the canopy filters the light into dancing patterns on the forest floor, and moss-covered logs provide perfect spots for a breather.

Families with young children will find plenty to occupy little minds - fallen branches become swords, hollow tree stumps turn into fairy houses, and there's enough space to let them run wild without losing sight of them. The paths aren't particularly challenging, making it suitable for pushchairs on the main routes, though you'll want to stick to wellies if it's been wet.

Dog walkers absolutely love this spot. The mix of open glades and denser woodland gives four-legged friends plenty of interesting scents to investigate, and there's usually space to let them off the lead safely.

Being free to access (as far as anyone knows), it's a cracking addition to a holiday based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Piccadilly or Devizes. Allow an hour or two for a proper explore, though keen walkers could easily spend half a day here connecting with longer footpath networks that spider out through the Wiltshire countryside. Early morning visits often reward you with glimpses of deer picking their way delicately through the undergrowth.