Fir Wood

You'll find Fir Wood just outside Chesham, a proper forest walk that doesn't require special shoes or a packed lunch - just thirty minutes and you're done if that's all the time you've got. The trees are tall and dense enough that you actually feel like you've escaped, even though you're minutes from town. The ground is soft with needles underfoot, which is pleasant enough, though it can get boggy after rain so watch your footing.

It's ideal for a quick ramble rather than an epic expedition. Families with young kids will manage it fine; there's enough space to let them run ahead without losing sight of them. The woodland is straightforward to navigate without much in the way of marked trails - just walk in and you'll see what there is to see. Don't expect dramatic viewpoints or ancient monuments. This is genuine local woodland, the kind of place where you go to breathe forest air and clear your head for an hour.

If you're staying at Lights Camera Glamping a few miles away, it's well worth the short drive over. You could combine it with exploring Chesham's town centre, which has decent cafes and pubs for afterwards. The forest works as a morning walk before a leisurely lunch rather than a destination in itself. Free to enter, naturally - it's just woodland. Go midweek if you can and you'll likely have the place to yourself.