Jerrymores Copse

Walking into Jerrymores Copse feels like stepping back into proper old-growth woodland - the kind where the canopy blocks out most of the sky and the floor squelches underfoot even weeks after rain. It's a small forest near Petworth, easy to miss if you're just driving through Sussex, but worth the detour if you're after somewhere quiet.

The trees here are ancient and gnarled, the sort that make you wonder what they've seen. There are footpaths threading through, though they can get muddy in winter - bring decent boots. It's not dramatic or towering like some forests; instead it's intimate, with sections where the light filters through in that golden way that makes you understand why people used to think these places were magical.

Historically minded visitors will find it interesting - woodlands like this shaped medieval England, and you can sense that age. Kids will enjoy it for an hour or so scrambling about, spotting birds and fungi, though it won't keep them entertained for a full day. Dog walkers get plenty out of it too.

If you're staying at Camp and Touring site at Old Farm Slindon just down the road, this is a cracking spot for a morning walk before heading into Petworth itself. It's free, naturally, and you can visit any time. Allow an hour for a proper wander without rushing. Go in autumn when the leaf litter is thick and the light's that particular shade of amber - it's when the copse really shows what it's got.