Dunmow Farm Wood

Walk into Dunmow Farm Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper old-growth Essex woodland - the kind of place where the canopy is thick enough that you lose track of time. This is a working forest rather than a manicured park, with rough tracks winding between mature trees and enough undergrowth to feel genuinely wild, even though Braintree is only a few miles away.

It's ideal for anyone after a decent woodland ramble without the crowds. Walkers will appreciate the network of paths that don't feel too well-trodden, and families with older kids can burn off energy properly here rather than trotting round something too sanitised. Younger children might find it a bit much on their own - the paths aren't always obvious and there's no playground nonsense to break things up.

The light filtering through the leaves is genuinely lovely in late spring and summer, and it's the sort of place where you might actually spot wildlife if you move quietly. Allow a couple of hours to do it justice without rushing. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so go prepared.

If you're based at either Dairymeade Farm Glamping or Hill Farm campsite nearby, this is a solid bet for an afternoon escape from the holiday park routine. It pairs well with exploring Braintree itself, but the wood is the better day by some distance.