Chantry Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Maldon, Chantry Wood is one of those Essex forests that doesn't shout about itself but rewards anyone who bothers to find it. You're walking through dense woodland with decent paths, the kind of place where the light filters through the canopy and you actually feel like you've stepped away from the coast for a bit.

It's walkers' territory, really. Families with young kids might manage an hour or so before restlessness sets in, but if you're after a proper stomp through the trees - nothing strenuous, just honest forestry - this fits the bill. The paths are manageable year-round, though winter when the undergrowth dies back is probably your clearest route through.

No facilities that we're aware of, so bring what you need. It's free to access, which is the way woodland should be. Allow a good hour minimum if you're actually exploring rather than just drifting through.

Locally it sits well with a park-based holiday around Maldon way. The Courts Campsite is closest at just over five kilometres off, or if you're staying at Hoe Mill Lock or Osea Leisure Park, this makes a solid half-day leg-stretcher when you need a break from the parks themselves. The Blackwater estuary dominates the Maldon area, so Chantry Wood offers a different pace - quieter, greener, less busy than the riverside spots.