Capon Grove

Dense woodland just outside Crawley, Capon Grove is the sort of place you stumble into rather than deliberately seek out - which is exactly why it works. The forest floor here is proper thick with bracken and low growth, making it feel genuinely wild despite being minutes from built-up areas. You're walking beneath mature trees with enough canopy to block out most of the sky, and the paths wind through without much fanfare or signage.

It's best suited to walkers who enjoy a bit of exploration rather than marked trails and information boards. Families with older kids will get something from it - there's space to roam and a real sense of discovery - but younger children might find the lack of facilities and play areas disappointing. The forest has that slightly unkempt feel that some people love and others find a touch too overgrown.

Allow a couple of hours if you're making a proper afternoon of it. There's no entrance fee as far as anyone can tell, though you'll need to park sensibly nearby. Spring's your best bet, before the bracken gets too high and the paths become harder to follow.

Fits well into a caravan stay around here - Worth Forest Glamping and Sands Farm are both within easy reach, and it's the sort of quiet woodland escape you'll want after a day exploring the region. Not a destination in itself, but a solid walk when you're based nearby.