Trueloves Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Horsham, Trueloves Wood is the sort of place locals know about but tourists tend to miss entirely. The forest floor is thick with beech and oak, the kind of canopy that keeps things cool even on warmer days. There's something satisfying about walking these paths - no theme park nonsense, just trees and the occasional glimpse of sky through the leaves.

It's best suited to people who actually like being in woods rather than those looking for a photo opportunity. Families with younger kids will find it manageable if you stick to the main paths, though older children and proper walkers will get more out of the whole circuit. The trails wind through decent woodland, and if you're lucky you might spot deer or wood pigeons overhead.

Allow a couple of hours if you're taking your time. There's nothing to pay that I can find, which is refreshing. Go in spring or autumn really - summer can feel a bit muggy under all that canopy, and winter reveals the structure of the place rather nicely.

If you're camping at Sumners Ponds Fishery just down the road, this is a convenient morning outing before heading back for lunch. It won't blow your mind, but it's honest woodland walking without the crowds you'd get at busier spots. The kind of place you return to quietly rather than boast about on Instagram.