Saint Margarets Copse

A proper woodland walk just outside Hemel Hempstead, Saint Margarets Copse is the kind of place locals know and visitors overlook. It's not dramatic - no waterfall, no ruined castle - just ancient trees, dappled light, and the kind of quiet you don't get near towns. The copse itself is manageable in an hour, though you can stretch it longer if you dawdle.

Walkers will appreciate it. The paths are decent underfoot and there's enough cover to make a grey day feel atmospheric rather than grim. Families with younger kids might find it a touch dull after thirty minutes unless they're the type to hunt for woodland creatures and build stick houses. Older children who actually like trees, though, will be fine.

It works brilliantly as a morning excursion if you're based at Merlin Farm Camping nearby - that's only four miles away if you're sleeping in a tent near Whipsnade Zoo and want to work off some energy before heading back. The Chiltern Hills surround this area, so you could easily combine it with other walks without feeling like you've wasted petrol.

Free to access, naturally. There's parking somewhere in the vicinity, though parking information isn't straightforward. Go early in the day if you want any peace. Winter's actually the best time - fewer insects, clearer sight lines through the branches, and the woodland floor is firmer.