Broom Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Broom Copse sits just outside Dorking and delivers exactly what you'd hope for from a Sussex forest - dense tree cover, a decent sense of remoteness, and the kind of muddy paths that make you feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The coppiced woodland here has been managed for centuries, which means the trees are younger and the canopy lets through enough light to spot bluebells in spring and decent fungi in autumn.

It's best for walkers who don't need facilities or visitor centres. Half an hour will get you through the main paths, though the forest links with surrounding woodland if you're keen to extend things. There's parking nearby though the exact arrangements weren't entirely clear when I visited. The ground gets boggy after rain, so proper boots matter.

Families with young children might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes - there's no café, no play area, nothing to break up the walking. Teenagers interested in actual forest ecology would get more from it than toddlers. Free admission as far as I could tell, though I'd ring Dorking tourist information to confirm current access arrangements before heading out.

If you're staying at Sands Farm Weekend Camping nearby, it's a decent half-day option to fill a few hours, but don't build your holiday around it. Better as a bonus walk than a reason to visit the area.