Nuthatch Forest

The woodland around Nuthatch Forest near Halstead is proper Essex countryside - quiet, unassuming, and genuinely lovely if you know what you're after. It's a working forest rather than a theme park, so don't expect visitor centres or gift shops. What you get instead are decent walking trails winding through mixed woodland, with small clearings and the kind of peace that's hard to find within striking distance of London.

Walkers will appreciate the tracks here more than most. The paths are manageable rather than challenging, which means families with kids who'll actually stay interested can do a circuit without it becoming a drama. Birdwatchers take it seriously - nuthatch spotting is the whole reason for the name, after all. Spring and early summer are when the forest does its best work, though winter walks have their own appeal if you don't mind the mud.

It's free to wander about, which helps justify the trip if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks. Stocks Farm Camping and Golden Grove both sit less than five miles away and make decent jumping-off points for a morning in the woods. Gosfield Lake Resort, just over three miles distant, is worth considering too if you want a bit more structure to your holiday base.

Allow a couple of hours for a proper walk without rushing. The forest itself isn't vast - you won't be losing half a day here - but it's genuinely worth the detour if you're in North Essex and fancy something green and quiet.