Moon Wood

Getting lost in Moon Wood, just outside Horsham, is rather the point. This dense Sussex forest is one of those places where you genuinely can't hear the A-road anymore after about five minutes of walking - which counts as a small miracle in the South East.

It's a proper woodland experience: ancient oaks, patches of bluebells if you time it right (April-May), and those occasional clearings where you suddenly remember what sky looks like. There's no visitor centre or marked trails that I could find, which means you're navigating by instinct and whatever footpaths the locals have worn into the forest floor. Some people will love that freedom. Others might find themselves turned around within twenty minutes.

Walkers get the most from Moon Wood - bring proper boots, not trainers. It's the kind of place where an afternoon disappears without you noticing. Kids generally stay interested for an hour, maybe ninety minutes if there's a stream to paddle in and fallen logs to climb on. Families using Cattlestone Farm, just 5.5 miles away, would do well to slot this in as a morning or late-afternoon wander before settling back for an evening at the campsite.

I'd allow two to three hours if you're actually exploring rather than just doing a quick lap. No facilities that I spotted - take water and a packed lunch if you're staying long. Go midweek if you want solitude. Weekends bring the local dog-walking crowd, which changes the atmosphere slightly. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like forests that feel lived-in rather than manicured, Moon Wood delivers.