Puttocks Wood

The woodland around Puttocks Wood, just outside Dorking, is the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan for - which is precisely why it works. Ancient oak and beech tower overhead, and the floor is thick with leaf mould that muffles your footsteps completely. It's proper quiet here, the kind where you actually hear birds.

This is a walker's spot, no question. The paths wind through established woodland with enough variety to keep things interesting for a couple of hours without demanding serious fitness. It's accessible enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might struggle with the muddier sections in winter. The forest floor can be boggy after rain, so decent boots are worth bringing.

If you're camped at Sands Farm Weekend Camping just 2.5 miles away - or even at Riverside Farm or Slinfold Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite a bit further out - Puttocks Wood makes a proper morning walk before breakfast or a late afternoon escape when the light gets golden. You won't need more than ninety minutes to an hour here unless you're really lingering, which you might find yourself doing anyway.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, and I couldn't pin down opening hours or admission fees - it reads like genuine common woodland rather than a managed attraction. That's actually its strength. Go early, bring a packed lunch, and don't expect anything other than trees, air, and the chance to think clearly for a bit.