Fentons Woods

Walk into Fentons Woods and you're immediately swallowed by proper old-growth woodland - the kind of place where the light filters through in thick green stripes and you can actually hear yourself think. It's a genuine escape just east of Woodbridge, the sort of spot that locals know about but tourists tend to miss entirely.

The woods themselves are straightforward: good walking paths wind through beech and oak, with enough variation to keep things interesting for a couple of hours. You won't find visitor facilities or formal attractions here - it's just woodland, which is rather the point. The paths are manageable for families with older kids, though younger ones might find it a bit relentless if they're not keen walkers.

Timing-wise, allow 90 minutes to two hours if you want to see the heart of it without rushing. Spring's brilliant when the bluebells are out. Autumn's equally decent, all golden light and leaf mulch underfoot. Summer can feel a bit damp and buggy, if I'm honest.

If you're based at one of the local glamping spots - Secret Meadows or Woodbridge Glamping are both rated five stars and roughly the same distance away - Fentons Woods makes a solid morning or afternoon walk to break up your park time. It's the kind of place that reminds you why the Suffolk countryside works: proper woodland that hasn't been over-manicured or turned into a visitor experience.