The Beeches

The Beeches is a proper woodland walk just outside Canterbury, the kind of place locals know about but tourists often miss. It's a working forest rather than a manicured country estate - you get the real thing here, with mature beech trees creating a cathedral-like canopy that feels worlds away from the city.

What you're doing is essentially walking through ancient woodland. The paths meander between thick trunks, and depending on the season, you'll either be crunching through leaves or spotting bluebells. It's dead easy to lose an hour here without trying. The forest floor is soft, which is lovely on the legs, and there are enough different routes to keep things interesting if you're the type who likes to explore rather than follow a single loop.

Families with kids who actually like being outdoors will get a genuine kick out of it - there's room to run about, fallen logs to investigate, and no gift shops trying to part you from your money. History types might appreciate that you're walking through woodland that's been here for centuries, though there's not much interpretation on site.

The beauty of staying at New Beach Holiday Park or Fallow Fields Camping nearby is that you've got this on your doorstep for a morning or afternoon session. It works perfectly as a break from beach days rather than a destination in itself. Bring proper footwear - it gets boggy - and go early or late to avoid the school groups.