Catlane Wood

Catlane Wood is a proper Norfolk woodland - the sort of place you stumble into expecting a quick twenty-minute wander and somehow lose two hours to. It's mixed broadleaf forest with a decent network of paths that meander through beech, oak and hazel, the kind of terrain that rewards just drifting along without a specific destination.

The trails here suit families with children old enough to manage uneven ground and the occasional muddy patch. There's enough variety to keep kids interested - clearings where light floods through, bits where the canopy goes thick and cathedral-like, a stream if you know where to look. Adults after a proper walk will find it equally worthwhile, though it's not demanding hiking territory. Allow an hour minimum, longer if you're the sort who stops to identify birds.

Walkers staying at Parkdean Resorts Manor Park or Searles Leisure Resort - both within a couple of miles - will find Catlane Wood a useful break from the holiday park routine. It's close enough that you're not burning an afternoon on travel. The glamping crowd from Wild Luxury might appreciate it too, though they're slightly further out. Spring and autumn are probably best; summer can get sticky and overgrown, winter's where the woodland structure actually shows itself properly.

Check locally whether there's anything to pay when you arrive - Norfolk woodland access policies vary. Parking appears to be roadside, so arrive sensible hours.