High Wood

High Wood sits just outside Dunmow and is the sort of place you'll stumble into by accident and end up spending far longer than you meant to. It's proper woodland - ancient Essex forest with a real sense of age to it, the kind where the light filters through in that specific way that makes you remember why people used to be afraid of forests. The paths are well-maintained but not sterile; they feel like they belong there rather than imposed on the landscape.

Walkers will get the most from it. The tracks are easy enough for families with kids, though younger ones might tire if you're hoping for a long ramble. The woodland itself doesn't dramatically open up into viewpoints or clearings - it's just good, solid forest walking. An hour or two works well depending on which path you take. There's something meditative about it, especially on a quiet morning when you've got the place to yourself.

If you're glamping at Dairymeade Farm a few miles away, High Wood makes a brilliant morning walk before heading back for breakfast. It's the antidote to manicured parkland - real trees doing their thing without needing much fanfare. Worth the drive out from Dunmow, though manage expectations: this isn't a scenic spectacle, it's just good woodland. Which for some of us is exactly the point.