Verney Copse

The path into Verney Copse is properly dense - ancient woodland that feels like it's been here forever, which it probably has. You get tall oaks, beech trees that tower overhead, and the kind of quiet that actually feels loud when you're used to roads and voices. It's the sort of forest where you notice things: a fallen trunk covered in moss, shafts of light through the canopy, the smell of damp earth and leaf litter.

This is walker territory, no question. You're looking at a couple of hours maximum if you want to see the best of it without overdoing it, though there's enough here to justify a proper morning out. The forest floor is uneven in places - good boots recommended - but it's not a scramble. Kids who are past the "carry me" stage will actually enjoy it; there's something about finding a stick and pretending to be explorers that works better in real woods than anywhere else.

It sits well within reach of Godalming, which means you can string together a decent day - a walk here, lunch in town, and you're sorted. The glamping options nearby at Little Cowdray Farm and the Springbok Estate campsite make it feel less like a quick detour and more like a proper countryside break. Neither requires advance booking that we can see, though the top-rated spots fill up during school holidays.

Worth the effort? Yes, if you want actual woodland rather than a country park with a gift shop. It's genuine, a bit wild, and exactly what you want when you're after some proper forest air.