Grey's Wood

Walking into Grey's Wood feels like stepping back into proper old England. The trees are tall enough that you lose the sky for stretches, and the ground underfoot switches between soft moss and ancient leaf litter that smells exactly how a forest should. It's a working woodland just outside Dorchester, which means you're not battling crowds or dodging mountain bikes - just the occasional dog walker and the sound of birds doing their thing.

This is exactly the sort of place to bring if you want to tire out restless kids without the theme park nonsense. There's no visitor centre or café, which some will find annoying and others - sensible ones - will appreciate. You can wander for as little as twenty minutes or lose a solid two hours in here depending on how deep you want to go. The paths are fairly clear, though you'll want proper shoes after rain.

Historically minded types might find it interesting just knowing how much of Dorset once looked like this. It's the real thing, not a manicured tourist attraction. If you're camped at Green Valley Yurts or any of the caravan parks nearby - Parkdean's just down the road - this is exactly the kind of morning activity that makes a holiday actually restful rather than frantically ticking boxes. No entrance fee to worry about either, which doesn't hurt. Pure woodland, no frills. Some people will love that. Others will want a gift shop. You probably know which camp you're in.