Borthwood Lynch

The forest floor here is wonderfully soft underfoot - centuries of leaf mulch and moss make walking through Borthwood Lynch feel like treading on carpet. This is proper woodland, the sort where you actually see woodland creatures if you're quiet and lucky, tucked away on the Isle of Wight near Sandown.

It's a working forest as much as a recreational one, managed by the Forestry Commission, so the trees are a mix of native oak and beech alongside planted conifers. Paths wind through at various levels of difficulty. You won't get lost, but you might take a wrong turn and end up somewhere unexpectedly lovely - which is half the appeal. The light filters through the canopy in that golden way that makes you forget you're only a few miles from the seafront.

Walkers are the lifeblood of this place. Families with young kids will manage the easier trails easily enough, though it's not a themed experience or anything - just wood and peace. Older children who like proper exploring, not playground exploring, will get more from it. Allow an hour minimum, longer if you're taking photographs or moving slowly.

It's free, which matters when you're based at somewhere like Sandhills Holiday Park or White Cliff Bay just down the road. Works brilliantly as a break from the beach or caravan routine. Go midweek if you can - weekends attract day-trippers from the mainland and it gets a bit tramped. Winter's actually better than summer here; the light's different and there's less undergrowth blocking the view into the forest depths.