Black Grove

The forest floor at Black Grove is thick with leaf litter and moss - proper ancient woodland. It's a modest stretch of trees east of Ware, the kind of place where you'll spot bluebells in spring if you time it right, but honestly it's not going to knock your socks off on a grey Tuesday afternoon.

What you get here is a genuine walk through old growth forest without the crowds. The canopy's dense enough that you feel properly enclosed, and there's enough space to wander without the paths being tramped into mud. It's fine for families with reasonably mobile kids - nothing dramatic, no dramatic viewpoints or facilities, just quiet woodland. Bring wellies though.

Plan on forty minutes to an hour if you're not rushing. There's no visitor centre or cafe, so come prepared. Spring's best, when the woodland flowers are out. Summer's pleasant for the shade, but by then the undergrowth can feel a bit suffocating.

If you're based at Church Farm Ardeley - just five miles away - this makes a straightforward morning venture without driving halfway across Hertfordshire. It pairs well with a proper walk in one of the bigger parks nearby if Black Grove feels too small, which it might. It's workmanlike rather than special, the kind of local wood you'd take regular walks through rather than plan a special trip for.