Shorthampton

The area has genuine character without feeling overly touristy, which is refreshing if you've spent time in some of the busier Cotswolds spots.

Shorthampton's real appeal lies in its setting at the edge of Wychwood Forest, giving you easy access to proper woodland walks. The forest itself has history dating back centuries, and you can spend hours wandering through it without seeing another soul. The hamlet itself has a working community feel rather than existing purely for visitors, with local amenities that include independent shops and a couple of good pubs where locals actually drink.

The parish church is worth a quiet look, and if you're interested in how villages work as living places rather than museum pieces, Shorthampton shows you that side of the Cotswolds. As a hamlet it's smaller and more intimate than many settlements in the region, so it maintains a genuinely rural atmosphere.

It works best as part of a wider walking itinerary in the valley rather than as a destination in itself. If you're based in Witney or heading towards the northern Cotswolds, it's definitely worth pausing here, particularly if you want woodland walks and a genuine pint.