Collendean Copse

A proper woodland walk near Crawley, Collendean Copse gives you the sense of having stumbled into something genuinely wild, despite being minutes from the motorway noise. Ancient beech and oak trees create the kind of dappled shade that makes you walk slower than usual, which is the whole point really.

It's the sort of place that rewards a slow amble rather than a purposeful hike. The paths wind through thick undergrowth, and in spring the woodland floor erupts with bluebells - genuinely worth timing your visit for, though by June it's just green again. Midway through you'll feel properly removed from the suburbs, which says something about Sussex's grip on its green spaces.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not dramatic or challenging - no views to speak of, no dramatic drops or ruins - but it's genuine forest bathing territory. Families with young kids might find thirty minutes enough before boredom sets in; there's nothing interactive about it, just trees and paths. Bring proper shoes after rain, as it gets boggy in places.

If you're staying at Gatwick Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just 3 miles away, this makes for an excellent morning or evening escape from the organised site routine. Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram-worthy. Just the working woodland that everyone forgets exists when they're rushing to the airport.