Limekiln Copse

Walk into Limekiln Copse and you're immediately wrapped in proper woodland - tall beeches and oaks that block out the sky, mossy paths underfoot, the sort of quiet you don't get near towns. It's a small forest just outside Petworth, nothing flashy, but that's rather the point. You're here to wander, not to queue for a viewing platform.

The woodland itself is the attraction. There are tracks through the trees, uneven ground that keeps you honest, and enough space to lose yourself for an hour or so without actually getting lost. The limekiln that gives the place its name is somewhere in here - evidence of old industry - though it's not signposted to death, which means you might find it by accident, or you might not. Either way, the walk matters more than ticking a box.

It suits walkers and anyone who wants to break up a park holiday with something quieter than a formal attraction. Kids will manage it if they're the sort who like climbing on logs and exploring. Bring decent boots - it gets muddy after rain. There's no café, no visitor centre, no admission charge as far as anyone can tell. It's free and it's there.

If you're staying at Camp and Touring site at Old Farm Slindon, five miles away, this is an easy slot into a day out. Close enough that you're not burning petrol for an hour-long walk, far enough that it feels like you've gone somewhere. Petworth itself has the National Trust house if you want culture, but Limekiln Copse is the option when you want trees, silence, and nothing else.