Cockshott Wood

The woodland floor here is thick with leaf litter and the air genuinely smells of damp earth - proper forest stuff. Cockshott Wood, a few miles west of Dorking, is one of those places that rewards you for knowing it exists, mainly because most people heading into the Surrey Hills don't bother with it.

It's a straightforward walk through decent-sized trees, with paths that are well-trodden but never rammed. You get the sense of actual woodland management here - coppiced sections mixed with older growth, clearings where light actually reaches the ground. Spring's best if you can manage it; the bluebells are genuinely worth timing a trip around.

Walkers will find this far more satisfying than the honeypot spots. It's not a dramatic landscape - no sudden vistas or dramatic drops - but there's something calming about it. Kids might get restless if you're expecting Disneyland, but if yours are the type who actually enjoy exploring trees and spotting things, they'll be fine for an hour or so. The woodland's compact enough that you won't be trudging for half the day.

If you're camping at Sands Farm just down the road, this is an obvious morning outing before breakfast. Free to enter, naturally - no gates or admission to speak of. The paths are accessible enough year-round, though winter can get a bit boggy. Allow 45 minutes to two hours depending on how slowly you move. It won't change your life, but it's honest woodland and well worth the short drive from Dorking.