Forge Wood

Forge Wood is a proper working forest just outside Heathfield, and it's the sort of place where you can actually walk without tripping over other people's selfie sticks. The woodland spreads across decent acreage with a mix of established trees and newer plantings, giving you that genuine forest feel rather than a manicured park experience.

You get a solid network of walking trails threading through, some gentle, others a bit more demanding depending on which route you pick. The undergrowth changes seasonally - decent bluebells in spring, thick green canopy come summer, and in autumn it's all rust and gold. It's very much a walker's forest rather than a sit-down-and-admire sort of place. Bring proper boots if you've had rain.

This works brilliantly if you're camping at Hale Farm or Dernwood Farm - both are less than a mile away, so you can do a morning ramble without the faff of getting in the car. For families with young kids who like a proper outdoor adventure rather than a playground, it's worth the walk. Older children will find the terrain interesting enough to hold their attention for a couple of hours.

It's free to access and open to the public, though there's no formal visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Go early if weekends get you down, and check the ground conditions after heavy rain - it can get boggy in places. Allow two to three hours for a reasonable circular walk depending on fitness and how easily distracted your lot get by moss and sticks.