Stoven Wood

The woodland paths through Stoven Wood offer proper peace if you're based anywhere near Halesworth. It's a solid stretch of managed forest where you can actually breathe - no gift shops, no staged photo opportunities, just trees and the occasional sound of a woodpecker if you're lucky enough.

The main draw here is straightforward: decent walking routes that won't destroy your knees, and enough shade to make a summer visit genuinely pleasant rather than sweaty misery. You're looking at anything from a gentle half-hour amble to a couple of hours if you want to cover the whole wood properly. Kids will stay entertained hunting for wildlife and scrambling over fallen logs, though it's not the sort of place that'll hold their attention all day.

Coming off a holiday at Pigs in Blankets or Parkdean Kessingland - both within easy striking distance - Stoven Wood makes a cracking morning outing. It breaks up the caravan park routine without requiring a big drive. The forest floor stays relatively dry even after rain, which is more than can be said for some Suffolk woodland.

There's no entrance fee that I'm aware of, and no set opening hours fussing about - that's rather the appeal. Just turn up, park sensibly, and walk. It's the sort of place British woodland should be: accessible, unpretentious, and refreshingly free of the over-management that spoils some nature reserves. Worth an hour or two, particularly if you're craving some genuine greenery during a caravan holiday.