Millfield Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Millfield Wood sits just outside Berkhamsted and works brilliantly as a half-day detour if you're camping nearby. The forest floor is thick with beech and oak, the sort of place where you actually notice the quiet. On a damp autumn morning the leaf mould smells like proper old England - earthy, dark, honest.

It's not a manicured nature reserve with interpretation boards and gift shops. There are decent walking trails threading through, some muddy patches that'll catch you out, and enough space to actually lose the school holiday crowds. Families will get an hour or so out of it comfortably, longer if the kids are the type to stop and turn over logs. Dog walkers seem to use it regularly, which says something about the ground conditions. The woodland canopy keeps things cool even when it's warm outside, and visibility is good enough to spot wildlife - rabbits, squirrels, the occasional pheasant.

If you're staying at Norcott Campsite or Whelpley Hill just down the road, this beats another lap of Berkhamsted town centre. Park at the edge and walk in - there's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, which is part of its appeal. Best visited when it's been dry for a few days; after rain it turns into a proper bog. Spring brings bluebells which look decent enough, though nothing you won't see elsewhere in Buckinghamshire. Allow 90 minutes if you want to see most of it without rushing.