Elbow Belt

The path through Elbow Belt winds through proper Norfolk woodland - the sort of place where you actually notice the quiet. This forest sits east of North Walsham and makes for a solid afternoon walk if you're staying at one of the nearby parks, particularly Manor Caravan Park which is just over five miles away.

It's not dramatic, this bit of East Anglia. No dramatic vistas or ancient monuments. What you get instead is mature trees, the smell of damp earth, and occasional glimpses of how the Norfolk countryside actually looks when it's left alone. The paths are manageable without being manicured, which appeals to families with older kids and serious walkers far more than the toddler crowd.

The real value here is as part of a broader park-based holiday rather than a standalone day trip. Pair it with Hickling Campsite - just under six miles away - and you've got a decent circuit of Norfolk's quieter corners. Allow two to three hours depending on how much you potter about looking at birds or fungi.

Go when it's been dry enough that the paths aren't sodden, which in Norfolk means you're taking your chances between May and September. Winter walks work too if you don't mind mud. There's something meditative about a Norfolk forest when everyone else is down the coast chasing kittiwakes. Worth the detour if you're in the area, not worth planning an entire weekend around.