Lord's Wood

You'll want to set aside at least two hours for Lord's Wood, and honestly, that's if you're not the sort to dawdle. This is proper woodland walking country just east of Hertford - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think without a car engine in the background.

The forest itself is dense and well-managed, with paths that range from gentle loops suitable for families with younger kids to longer routes that'll give you a decent leg workout. Ancient trees, decent ground cover, and the sort of quiet that makes you remember why you left the town in the first place. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right, which tips it from pleasant to genuinely worth planning around.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a spectacle like some nature reserves - you won't find rare birds or dramatic vistas - but it's a cracking spot for a proper forest walk without the crowds you'd get at more famous spots. Families with children over seven or eight will find enough variety to keep them engaged, though younger kids might lose interest without a specific nature hunt to structure the visit.

Free to access as far as we can tell, and it pairs well with Church Farm Ardeley just up the road if you're basing yourself in a holiday park nearby. The campsite's roughly 6 miles away, which makes it a realistic outing without a massive drive. Go midweek if possible - weekends can draw the local crowd, which rather defeats the purpose.