Bushy Park Wood

Bushy Park Wood sits just east of Colchester and is a proper working woodland rather than a manicured tourist trap. Walk in and you've got ancient oaks, plenty of undergrowth, and the kind of paths that feel genuinely quiet compared to what you'd find closer to town. It's the sort of place where you notice things - bird calls, the smell of damp earth after rain, how light filters through the canopy in autumn.

This is solidly a walkers' place. Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after half an hour, unless they're the type who love identifying trees and mushrooms. Older children and adults who actually enjoy being in woodland will get far more from it. The terrain is gently undulating but nothing taxing - you're not scrambling or climbing, just moving through proper forest.

If you're staying at Polstead Country Park, which is only just over a mile away, Bushy Park Wood makes a straightforward morning or afternoon walk. The Huts at Woodthorpes is closer to Colchester itself but still within easy reach. Both are strong bases if you want woodland walks without driving further afield.

Allow two to three hours if you're actually going to explore rather than just poking around the entrance. There's no visitor centre or café, so bring your own drinks. Spring and early summer are when it comes alive - the birds are nesting, there's new growth everywhere. Winter's alright too if you don't mind muddy boots.