The Serpentine

The Serpentine is a woodland walk just outside Canterbury that winds through mature forest with enough character to make it worth a morning's outing, though don't expect dramatic vistas or tourist infrastructure. It's the kind of place locals know and visitors often miss - trees, paths, and proper quiet. The walk takes you through mixed woodland where the canopy gets properly thick in summer, which is either brilliant if you're after shade or slightly oppressive depending on your mood.

This is walker territory, really. If you're camping at Turners Folly Field or Fallow Fields near Sandwich, it's close enough for a half-day ramble before lunch back in Canterbury. Families with younger kids might find it a bit dull after thirty minutes - there's not much in the way of waymarked trails or points of interest, just woodland. Older children and anyone who enjoys a quiet forest walk will get more from it.

The access details are thin on the ground online, so you'll want to ask at your accommodation or the Canterbury visitor information before you head out. Assume it's free - most woodland walks in Kent are - but check the specific entrance and parking situation beforehand. Allow a couple of hours maximum if you're doing a loop, and go on a weekday if possible to avoid the school holiday crowds that descend on Canterbury.

It works as a decent counterpoint to busier attractions in the area - a proper breather rather than a destination in itself.