Norley Copse

A proper woodland walk in the heart of the Isle of Wight, Norley Copse is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The forest floor here is thick with beech and oak, the kind of trees that actually make you feel like you've gone somewhere, not just wandered ten minutes from the car park. There's a real sense of quiet - you won't find crowds queuing for Instagram shots.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The paths wind through decent woodland, nothing too steep, manageable for families with school-age kids though very young ones might find the uneven ground tiresome. You're looking at anything from half an hour for a quick loop up to two hours if you fancy exploring properly. The light filters through the canopy in that particular way that makes you forget about your phone for a bit, which is rare.

Based near Brockenhurst, it's an easy stop if you're doing a broader New Forest tour. Pair it with the nearby parks - Glamping The Wight Way sits just over six miles away and makes a solid base if you're after something with more structure than just pitching a tent. The copse itself costs nothing and there's no faffing about with opening hours; you're essentially free to wander as the mood takes you.

Go on a weekday if possible. Weekends pull in day-trippers who seem to think it's a race.