Wern's Wood

Walking into Wern's Wood feels like stepping into something properly unspoiled. It's a sprawling woodland area in Powys that doesn't get the crowds you'd expect given how close it sits to Hereford. The forest itself is ancient-feeling - densely wooded with good footpaths that wind through beech and oak, the kind of place where you can actually hear birdsong without traffic noise underneath it.

Walkers will find this absolutely worth the trip. You can spend anywhere from forty minutes to a couple of hours here depending on which trails you take, and the terrain is manageable for most fitness levels, though it does get muddy in winter so bring proper boots. Family groups with older kids will get the most from it - littluns might find it a bit samey after an hour, and it's not a destination with obvious landmarks or viewpoints that shout at you. What it offers instead is peace and the chance to actually move through woodland without feeling like you're on a theme park attraction.

The wood works brilliantly as a half-day add-on if you're staying at one of the glamping sites nearby - Heart of the Wye or By the Wye are both within walking distance - or if you're using Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park as your base and want an escape from the town's literary tourism crowds. There's no visitor centre or facilities that we can establish, so come prepared with water and snacks. Best visited autumn or spring when the undergrowth isn't at its densest.