Coffin Copse

The name alone stops you in your tracks - Coffin Copse sounds like something from a Gothic novel, though the truth is far less sinister. This small woodland sits just outside Cowes on the Isle of Wight and makes for a decent woodland walk if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like The Orchards or Camp Wight.

It's essentially a working forest with footpaths running through it, the sort of place where you'll find yourself among oak and beech, listening to actual birdsong rather than theme park announcements. The walk is straightforward enough - nothing that'll test your fitness or your navigation skills - and it takes maybe 30 to 45 minutes depending on which route you fancy. Free to access, which is always a bonus.

Honestly, Coffin Copse won't change your life. It's no ancient monument or dramatic coastal vista. What it is, though, is a proper little pocket of calm on an island that can feel fairly built-up in places. Kids won't be bored if they're the type who enjoy crunching through leaves and spotting woodland creatures. Adults after a quick leg-stretch before heading into Cowes for lunch will find it spot-on.

If you're doing a caravan holiday with Tapnell Farm or Compton Farm, it's worth a visit as part of a morning out. Pair it with a walk along the Medina estuary and you've got yourself a decent half-day. Don't expect it to be the highlight of your break, but it's proper Isle of Wight woodland - authentic and unhurried.