Markwick's Wood

The woodland around Wadhurst isn't flashy, but it's proper. Markwick's Wood offers the kind of forest walk where you can actually hear yourself think - no gift shop, no visitor centre, just trees and the occasional bramble catching your sleeve. It's the real deal for anyone staying at Hopgarden Glamping or Glassenbury Camping who wants to stretch their legs without driving somewhere more famous.

The walk itself meanders through mixed woodland with the sort of muddy paths that mean you need decent boots even in summer. You'll spot bluebells in spring if you time it right, and the whole thing has that slightly overgrown, undiscovered feel that forest walks in Kent often do. Kids under ten might start asking how much longer after an hour, but teenagers and actual walkers will find it rewarding.

There's no entrance fee or formal opening hours - you turn up and go. Allow two to three hours if you're taking your time and exploring the various paths that branch off. It's best visited after a few dry days, otherwise it becomes a boot-sucking trudge.

What makes it work as part of a forest holiday is the location. Wadhurst sits right in the Sussex Weald, so you can combine this with nearby woodland and several decent pubs without feeling like you're on an organised tour trail. Hopgarden, just over a mile away, is the obvious base - glamping with actual forest access means you're sorted for the week.