Calehill Park

Calehill Park is a proper nature reserve just outside Bethersden, the sort of place where you actually feel like you've stepped away from the everyday rather than just wandered into another manicured green space. It's woodland and grassland mixed together, with paths that wind through without being aggressively signposted - you have to pay attention to where you're going, which I quite like.

The reserve works best for walkers rather than families with pushchairs. A couple of hours here gets you through the main trails without rushing, though there's enough going on - birds, occasional wildlife, seasonal wildflower patches - to make you stop and look more than once. Spring and early summer are the obvious choices if you're keen on flora; autumn's decent too for the light through the trees.

I found it genuinely quiet on a Saturday afternoon, which says something about how few people make the trip. That's either brilliant or a warning depending on what you want. If you're after somewhere to clear your head between visits to busier attractions, this does the job. If you need facilities or a visitor centre, you'll be disappointed.

Go Glamp is only five and a half miles away, making Calehill an easy addition to a glamping holiday in the area. The walking distance is manageable, though not a stroll - more of a proper walk. Worth doing if you're already staying locally and have a morning free, but don't reroute your trip specially.