Bourne Wood

Walk into Bourne Wood east of Hertford and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - the kind where light filters through a proper canopy and the path ahead disappears into green. It's a working forest, managed by Forestry England, so don't expect manicured trails or fairy-tale cleanliness. What you get instead is the real thing: dense stands of oak and beech, the occasional sudden clearing, and a sense that you've actually left town behind.

The wood works best for walkers with decent boots and a bit of patience. There are several entry points and marked routes weaving through the 500-odd acres, ranging from a quick wander to a solid two-hour loop if you push it. Families with energetic kids will find enough space to let them loose; quieter types will appreciate the lack of crowds that plague some Hertfordshire greenspaces. Birdwatchers turn up regularly - you'll spot the usual suspects, and with luck something more interesting.

It's free to access and there's no formal opening hours, though sensible daylight-only visiting is the done thing. Spring brings bluebells in proper drifts. Autumn's when the walking is easiest - the undergrowth dies back and you can actually see where you're going. Summer can be a bit damp and tangled.

If you're camping or caravan-ing at Church Farm near Ardeley, Bourne Wood makes an excellent half-day detour. It's proper woodland without the postcard polish - honest forest walking on your doorstep.