Mark Mead Plantation

Walking into Mark Mead Plantation, you're immediately wrapped in tall conifers and the soft crunch of needles underfoot. It's a proper working forest rather than some manicured nature reserve - you get the sense that trees here are taken seriously, not just left to look nice for visitors.

The plantation spreads across Sussex woodland south of Dorking, offering decent walking routes through mixed stands of evergreens. It's the sort of place that appeals to people who actually like forests - walkers wanting a couple of hours among the trees without tourist infrastructure, rather than those after a quick Instagram stop. The paths are manageable, though muddy after rain, and there's genuine peace once you get away from any entrance points.

There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, which is both the appeal and the limitation. You need to bring your own compass and OS map sense, or be content wandering the main trails. It's free to access, and honestly that suits the place - it doesn't pretend to be anything other than working woodland.

For a caravan holiday based at Gatwick Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite nearby, this makes a solid morning walk option. Don't expect viewpoints or ancient monuments. Do expect quiet, proper forest air, and the chance to remember why people actually liked walking in woods before visitor centres became mandatory. Combine it with other South East attractions - Dorking itself has decent shops and the North Downs are close by - and you've got a decent half-day outing.