Upper Wet Pightle

Upper Wet Pightle is a proper woodland walk just outside Reading - the sort of place locals know about but most visitors miss entirely. It's a small forest with a network of paths that wind through mixed woodland, and while it won't blow your mind with dramatic vistas, it's exactly what you need if you're camping at Ravenswing Park or Bishops Green Farm and fancy a couple of hours away from the caravan.

The paths are manageable for families with older kids, though younger ones might find it a bit samey after the first twenty minutes - it's woodland, not a theme park. Dog walkers absolutely love it, and in autumn the leaf cover makes it worth the visit even if you're just mucking about with a camera. The whole circuit probably takes forty minutes to an hour depending on which way you go.

Being free and unfenced, you can turn up whenever suits you. Early morning is lovely if you want to avoid the dog-walking crowd. It's not the sort of place you'd plan a whole day around, but it slots in perfectly with a broader park holiday in the area. Cherry Bird Country Park is close enough for a half-day visit, and if you're based around Reading, this is a solid local alternative to paying entry fees elsewhere.

The woodland is fairly flat, which is either a pro or a con depending on whether you wanted dramatic terrain. Bring wellies if it's been wet - the name 'Wet Pightle' isn't entirely romantic marketing.