Owlbarn Copse

Walking into Owlbarn Copse feels like stepping backwards into proper Sussex woodland - the kind where you can actually lose yourself for an hour without seeing a soul. It's a small forest near Horsham, dense with mature trees and the kind of quiet that makes you realise how little of this is left down south.

The paths wind through without being over-manicured, which is exactly what you want. You'll see bluebells if you time it right (April-May), and the canopy is thick enough that it stays cool even on warm days. It's the sort of place where children actually pay attention instead of asking when they can go home - there are fallen logs to clamber over, proper forest smells, and enough space to let them run about.

Historically walkers tend to spend 45 minutes to an hour here, depending on how much dawdling you do. There's no admission charge that we can find, and no visitor facilities, so come prepared with water and head out early if you're after solitude.

It works well alongside a week based at one of the nearby campsites - Sussex Topiary Campsite or Slinfold Caravan and Motorhome Club are both within striking distance. Use it as your morning walk before heading into Horsham for lunch, or knock it off mid-afternoon. It won't blow your mind, but it's genuine woodland without the crowds, and that's rarer than it should be.