Tibetan cherry

The layout makes it very walkable—a network of clearly marked paths takes you through different sections, each highlighting specimens from particular regions. The Tibetan cherry is genuinely striking here, with its copper-coloured bark that peels in layers to reveal the pale wood beneath. In winter especially, when the landscape is bare, these trunks catch the light in a way that's genuinely beautiful, though they're impressive any time of year as you move through changing light.

You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring at your own pace, and there's an elevated walkway that lets you experience the trees from up in the canopy—a refreshing change of perspective. It appeals whether you're a keen botanist or simply after a good walk in the open air. Robert Stayner Holford established the arboretum in the mid-nineteenth century, and Forestry England now runs it with real care for maintaining both accessibility and the woodland itself. Located conveniently close to Tetbury, Malmesbury, and Cirencester, it works well as part of a broader exploration of the surrounding Cotswolds towns.