Ten Acre Wood

The woodland near Saffron Walden isn't going to blow your mind with rarity or scale, but it's a proper working forest with real appeal if you know what you're after. Ten Acre Wood does exactly what it says - gives you a decent patch of trees to wander through, decent footpaths, and the sort of quiet that Essex doesn't always offer.

It's the kind of place families with younger kids will appreciate for an hour or so, though older walkers might find themselves wanting more elevation or views. The trails aren't demanding, which means pushchairs work fine and nobody's going to complain about their knees. Bluebell season, if you catch it right, lifts the whole experience.

Think of it less as a destination and more as a morning's activity to break up your holiday. If you're staying at Hidden Gem Glamping or Readers Field Glamping - both cracking spots nearby - this is a sensible way to get some air before coffee. The bonus is you won't be fighting crowds, which is increasingly rare within 20 minutes of anywhere decent.

Getting there from Saffron Walden is straightforward, and parking isn't a nightmare. Bring proper footwear though - the paths can be boggy depending on weather. It's free, naturally, and there's no nonsense about visitor centres or opening times to wreck your plans. Go when the weather's decent and don't expect anything fancy. You'll leave feeling you've had a walk rather than visited something.