Adam's Copse

A proper woodland walk through Sussex that most tourists miss entirely. Adam's Copse near Emsworth isn't flashy or branded - it's just a genuinely nice stretch of forest where you can actually hear yourself think. The paths wind through beech and oak, and on a clear day the light filters through the canopy in that particular way that makes you understand why people get sentimental about English woods.

The walk itself takes around an hour depending on which route you fancy, and there's enough variation in the terrain to keep things interesting without being punishing. It's the sort of place where dog walkers outnumber sightseers, which tells you something about its local appeal. Families with primary-school kids will get a decent outing here - enough trails to explore without the exhaustion that comes from grander Sussex beauty spots.

There's free access and no visitor centre faff, which is refreshing. Go in autumn when the leaf cover turns golden, or spring when everything's properly verdant. Summer can be a bit muggy under the trees. The woodland sits nicely within reach of Bow Hill Farm if you're camping, just a twenty-minute drive, or Concierge Camping slightly further out. Neither location will have you desperate to escape for woodland therapy, but Adam's Copse itself is worth the detour if you're staying in the area and fancy a straightforward forest ramble without the crowds you'd get at somewhere like Kingley Vale.