Wynnel's Grove

Walk into Wynnel's Grove and you're immediately wrapped in that thick Essex woodland quiet - the sort where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a proper forest, not the manicured sort you get in country estates, with dense trees overhead and the ground soft underfoot from years of leaf drop. The canopy's so thick in places you could almost believe you're miles from anywhere, though Royston's just a short drive away.

Walkers will find this straightforward and rewarding. There are decent paths threading through, though they're not always obvious if you're not paying attention. In autumn it's genuinely lovely - the light comes through all golden and the undergrowth is thick enough to feel like proper wilderness. Summer's decent too, though you'll want to go early if you want solitude. The place isn't set up as a visitor attraction with facilities, so bring water and wear decent boots if there's been rain.

It works brilliantly as a break from a campsite stay - Pightle Farm is only a few miles off, which makes this an easy morning or afternoon out. Kids will manage the woodland without getting bored, though there's no playground nonsense, so they need to be the sort who enjoy a walk. You're looking at a couple of hours maximum here, but that's the point - it's genuine woodland rather than a destination you'd build a whole day around.