Wateredge Copse

Walking into Wateredge Copse feels like stepping properly off the beaten track, even though you're only a few miles from Petworth. It's a modest woodland - nothing dramatic - but the appeal lies in how quiet it gets once you're in among the trees. The paths wind through mature oak and beech, and in autumn the light filtering through turns everything golden. Worth allowing an hour or two if you've got kids who like exploring, though it won't keep restless teenagers entertained for long.

The forest sits close enough to Little Cowdray Farm Glamping that you could easily combine them into a weekend. If you're based there, this makes for a gentle morning walk before heading into Petworth proper for lunch. The terrain is relatively flat and manageable, so it suits families with younger children better than more challenging Surrey hikes. Bring wellies in winter - the ground gets boggy in patches.

Honestly, it's not the sort of place that'll make your Instagram feed sing, but that's rather the point. It's proper woodland walking without the crowds or the gift shop. Free to access from what we could determine, though facilities are minimal - no café, no car park to speak of. You're looking at roadside parking and bringing your own supplies. Best visited on a weekday if you want solitude, and worth timing it for when the weather's cooperating. It's the kind of spot locals know about and visitors mostly miss.