Tunbridge Wells Common

The Common sprawls across 250 acres of proper Kentish woodland and heathland, just a short walk from Tunbridge Wells town centre. You're looking at sandy paths threading through silver birch and pine, open glades where the light comes through in slabs, and in spring and summer the gorse turns the whole place golden. It's free, naturally, and locals have been tramping these paths for centuries.

The Pantiles area - that's the Regency-era colonnade in town - sits right on the edge, so you can grab a coffee and wander straight onto the Common without needing a car. Most people allow an hour or two for a decent loop, though if you're serious about walking you could easily spend half a day here. The terrain is gentle enough for families with pushchairs on the main tracks, but the woodland trails get proper muddy after rain, so plan accordingly.

Histor buffs will appreciate the old iron railings that once marked the boundaries - remnants of when the Common was fiercely protected from development. It's the sort of place where you understand why people got passionate about preserving green space.

Stay at one of the nearby glamping spots - Honnington Farm is closest at under three miles - and you've got a genuine dose of Kent woodland on your doorstep. Far better than a park bench in town. The Common's best visited midweek if you want it quiet. Weekends draw the local dog walkers and joggers, which is fine, but the whole appeal here is space and silence.