Mildenhall Woods

Walking into Mildenhall Woods feels like stepping back in time. This sprawling woodland near Brandon is proper old-growth forest - the kind where ancient oaks tower overhead and the forest floor is thick with leaf litter that's been accumulating for centuries. You'll find yourself on quiet trails that wind through dense cover, with plenty of spots to pause and listen to birdsong without another soul in earshot.

It's the sort of place that rewards a slow amble rather than a rushed tick-box visit. Families with older kids will do well here - there's room to roam and explore without feeling hemmed in, though pushchairs are a non-starter on most paths. Serious woodland walkers love it for the sense of genuine forest immersion you don't often get in Suffolk. The canopy is thick enough that even on muggy days it stays reasonably cool.

Allow at least two hours to get a proper feel for it, longer if you're the contemplative type. The woods are free to access and open year-round, though they're finest in autumn when the trees turn and spring when the woodland floor comes alive. Winter walks are good too if you don't mind a bit of mud underfoot.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Kings Forest is particularly well-rated - Mildenhall Woods makes an excellent morning out before heading back for lunch. It's close enough to Brandon that you won't waste half the day driving, yet isolated enough to feel genuinely away from it all.