HollBrown's Spring Wood

Walk into HollBrown's Spring Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - the kind of place where the noise of Hemel Hempstead melts away after about five minutes. It's a straightforward forest, nothing fancy, just tall trees, decent paths, and the sort of quiet you don't get often enough.

The wood works best for walkers after a night or two at one of the nearby campsites. Highridge Farm is right on the doorstep (less than a mile away), making this an obvious add-on to a camping weekend rather than a destination in itself. If you've got the family at Merlin Farm near Whipsnade Zoo, it's only a short drive over - good for burning off energy between the zoo and heading back to base.

There's nothing to do except walk. No visitor centre, no café, no facilities that I'm aware of. Expect to spend an hour or two depending on how much you want to explore. Bring a map if you're the type who gets turned around in woods. It's the sort of place that appeals to people who actually enjoy walking rather than those looking for Instagram shots - which, frankly, is what makes it worth the visit.

Best in autumn when the light cuts through the canopy properly. Summer can be a bit relentless with the greenery. Don't bother if you're after a quick fifteen-minute leg-stretch - it deserves time. Kids will get bored if they're after adventure playgrounds, but those who like climbing on fallen trees and spotting wildlife will be fine.