Chancel Covert

A proper woodland walk through mixed forest just inland from the Lowestoft coast, Chancel Covert is the sort of place locals know but visitors often miss. The trees here are tall and dense enough to feel like you've stepped away from the seafront entirely - pines, broadleaves, and plenty of space to actually breathe without a chip shop in sight.

It's woodland rather than a manicured nature reserve, so expect muddy paths, fallen branches, and genuine forest floor rather than gravel trails. Allow an hour or so for an unhurried walk. There are no facilities to speak of - no car park drama, no café, no interpretive boards - which is either refreshing or annoying depending on your mood and how many times you've asked the kids if they need the toilet.

Walkers get the most from this place. It's handy for breaking up a coastal holiday at somewhere like Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach just down the road - a morning ramble before heading back to the caravan. The forest itself doesn't have much in the way of dramatic features, but that's rather the point. You're here for the walk, not for photographs.

Best visited in autumn when the light filters through properly, though honestly it works fine any time. Free to access as far as can tell, though there's no formal signage about it. From Lowestoft, it's a short drive inland - worth the detour if you've had enough of amusement arcades and want actual trees for a bit.