Blanshotts Copse

Walk into Blanshotts Copse and you'll understand why Surrey's woodlands deserve more attention than they typically get. It's proper forest - dense, quiet, with the sort of dappled light that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. The trees are mature and well-established, creating natural corridors that feel genuinely separated from the outside world, even though Petworth is just down the road.

This is a walker's woodland rather than a destination attraction. Bring decent boots if it's been wet, as the paths can get boggy. You're looking at anything from 30 minutes for a gentle potter to a couple of hours if you fancy a proper wander through the lot. There's something satisfying about a forest with no obvious start or finish - you just choose your own route and disappear into it.

Families with older kids will get the most from it. Young children might find it a bit samey after a while unless they're properly into bug-hunting or den-making. The woodland feels well-used but never crowded, which is refreshing.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Little Cowdray Farm or Glamping Holiday are both within six miles - Blanshotts makes a straightforward morning or late-afternoon excursion. It's not a headline attraction, but it's exactly the sort of place that stops a park holiday from feeling like just a park holiday. Sometimes the best bit is walking away from everything for an hour.