Ewekene's Copse

A proper woodland walk through ancient Sussex forest, Ewekene's Copse delivers the kind of quiet you can't find near Dorking town centre. The trees here are old - you sense it the moment you step in, all gnarled trunks and dappled light filtering through a dense canopy. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no infrastructure to speak of, which is precisely why it works.

This is ideal for anyone wanting to escape for an hour or two without faffing about with maps and trail guides. Dog walkers come regularly. Families with older kids who won't whinge about muddy paths will find it absorbing - there's something about walking through proper woodland that keeps people quiet and observant. Birdwatchers occasionally report sightings here too, though you need patience.

The going is straightforward - mostly level, occasionally boggy depending on recent rain. Allow ninety minutes if you're taking your time; you could rush it in forty minutes but that rather defeats the purpose. Spring and autumn are best: spring for bluebells and birdsong, autumn for the canopy turning and fewer midges.

It slots well into a wider Sussex ramble. Sands Farm Weekend Camping sits just four miles away if you're basing yourself in the area, and the Copse makes a decent morning excursion before heading elsewhere. Free access, naturally - it's a forest, not a theme park. Don't expect signage or much else. Just trees.