A heavenly scent

What makes it special is how the place transforms with the seasons—autumn delivers spectacular colour, but spring blossoms, summer's full canopy, and winter's bare branches all offer their own appeal.

The walking trails suit different energy levels, from leisurely strolls to longer routes that lead you through sections like the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood. The Stihl Treetop Walkway is genuinely worth experiencing; it curves gently above the canopy and lets you see the forest from an entirely different perspective. Robert Stayner Holford founded this collection in the mid-1800s, driven by a passion for gathering unusual plants from around the world. The conservation and research work he started then continues today.

There's a cafe on site if you want refreshment, or plenty of space to spread out with your own picnic. It works really well as part of a broader day exploring the Cotswolds—Tetbury and Malmesbury are both just a short drive away and worth visiting themselves. Give yourself several hours to properly wander through. This is one of those places where you can easily lose track of time among the trees and come away feeling genuinely restored.