Wicken Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured tourist attraction, Wicken Wood sits just outside Buckingham and delivers what you'd want from a Buckinghamshire forest - decent trees, quiet paths, and a genuine sense of being away from it all without needing a map and compass.

The wood itself is straightforward: mixed broadleaf and conifer, the kind of place where you can spend a good hour or two wandering without hitting the same spot twice. There's nothing fancy about it - no visitor centre, no themed trails with educational plaques - which is precisely why it works. You get woodland, full stop. Families with kids who can manage a couple of miles will find it absorbs an afternoon easily enough. Dog walkers absolutely love it. History buffs won't find much to grip onto here, but walkers after a proper leg-stretch will be content.

The nearest proper base is Buckingham itself, though the cluster of campsites within five miles - Hedgehog Retreat, Silverstone Woodlands, and the others dotting the area - make this a natural stop for a woodland break. It's not a destination in itself, but rather the kind of place that makes sense when you've booked a week in the region and need a half-day outing that doesn't involve spending cash.

Best visited autumn to spring when the mud's manageable and you won't be fending off families on school holidays. Allow two hours minimum if you actually want to explore rather than dash through. Worth the detour from the campsites? Yes, if you're after genuine quiet.