Pickersdane Scrubs

Pickersdane Scrubs is a proper working woodland just outside Hythe - the sort of place that feels forgotten by everyone except locals who know it's brilliant for a quiet walk. The scrubland and forest mix means you get dappled shade under oak and birch, with patches of open ground where the light floods in. It's not manicured or marked out; that's rather the point.

Walkers will get the most from it, especially those who like woods without the crowds. There's something satisfying about threading through proper countryside that hasn't been turned into a visitor attraction. The paths are muddy after rain - wear decent boots. You're looking at 45 minutes to two hours depending on which way you ramble. It won't set your heart racing elevation-wise, but it's good for clearing your head.

Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after half an hour unless they're the sort who enjoy hunting for insects and building sticks. Seriously muddy terrain means buggies are a non-starter. There's no visitor infrastructure - no tea van, no facilities - so come prepared.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Dunn Street Farm, Hawthorne Trench, or Broadhembury - this makes a solid morning or afternoon filler rather than a destination in itself. It works well as a break between the coast and other local walks. Check the ground conditions before you go; Kent clay gets heavy after rainfall and you'll come out looking like you've wrestled a bog.