Nash Wood

Nash Wood sits just east of Chelmsford and delivers exactly what you want from an Essex woodland - proper peace without the crowds. It's a straightforward forest walk through mixed broadleaf trees, the kind of place where you can actually hear birdsong instead of the motorway hum that defines so much of the south-east.

The paths wind through cleanly, mostly flat or gently rolling underfoot. On a decent day, dappled light filters through the canopy and it feels a world away from the commuter belt just beyond the treeline. You're looking at a solid two-hour walk if you take your time, though you can easily do thirty minutes and call it done. Don't expect dramatic vistas or ancient monuments - this is straightforward woodland, the sort of place locals come to clear their heads.

Walkers will get the most from it, particularly those after a quiet morning circuit before heading elsewhere. Families with younger kids might find it a touch samey after the first hour. Dog walkers love it.

It works well as a leg-stretcher if you're based at The Courts Campsite just 1.6 miles away, or Stuarts Wood Campsite if you're staying a bit further out towards Ongar. Given that both those sites are well-rated, you could easily make Nash Wood part of a camping weekend without needing to travel anywhere special. There's no admission charge and no facilities to speak of - bring water and decent shoes, turn up whenever you fancy.