Bury Spring

There's something rather special about walking through Bury Spring forest when the light filters through the canopy just right - which, if you time it for late morning, happens almost every day. It's a proper woodland escape just outside Dunmow, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think instead of the usual Essex roar of the A120.

The forest itself is manageable for a family stroll without being a epic trek. You'll find yourself on decent paths winding through mixed woodland - nothing too taxing, which means younger kids won't start demanding to be carried after twenty minutes. The whole thing takes roughly an hour if you're not rushing, maybe ninety minutes if you stop to poke about.

It's genuinely worth the detour if you're based at Dairymeade Farm Glamping up the road. Rather than sitting in your bell tent all afternoon, this gives you a proper walk without needing a full day's commitment. The forest isn't going to blow your mind with dramatic views or rare birds, but it's exactly what you want when you need green space and fresh air without the circus of a major tourist spot.

Come on a weekday if you can. Weekends get busy with locals, and the whole point rather evaporates when there's a queue of pushchairs ahead of you. Early autumn is best - the light's lower, the paths aren't muddy, and it's quiet enough to actually feel like you've left somewhere.