Holt Copse

Deep woodland doesn't get much better than Holt Copse, a proper Surrey forest just outside Dorking that feels properly remote despite being nowhere near the middle of nowhere. The trees here are tall and thick - mostly beech and oak - and on a decent day the light filters through in that way that makes you forget you're still in the South East.

It's a walker's wood, mainly. No visitor centre, no facilities, just paths through trees and the occasional clearing where you can actually see sky. The beauty of it is the simplicity. You won't find themed trails or info boards here; it's just you, the forest, and the quiet. Kids who like proper adventure - the kind where there's a chance of getting lost and finding their own way out - will love it. Those after an easy twenty-minute stroll might find it a bit samey after a while.

Allow at least ninety minutes if you want to do it justice and actually explore rather than just walk through. The paths are well-trodden enough that you won't get genuinely lost, but they twist enough to feel like discovery. Autumn is magical here - the leaf cover is dense and the colours are proper impressive.

If you're camping at one of the nearby parks - Riverside Farm or Care Ashore are both rated highly and within six miles - Holt Copse makes a cracking half-day addition to your itinerary. It's free, it's peaceful, and it does the job of reminding you why you came to Surrey in the first place.