Chapel Wood

Walking into Chapel Wood feels like stepping back about fifty years - it's proper woodland as woodland should be, all dense canopy and leaf litter, about twenty minutes' drive east of Stevenage. The forest floor is thick with bracken and fallen branches, the kind of place where you actually lose the sound of traffic, which is rarer than you'd think in Hertfordshire.

It's a straightforward woodland walk rather than a destination with bells and whistles. You'll find decent paths threading through, and the trees are mature enough to create real shade even in summer. There's something satisfying about it - no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, just trees and quiet. Works brilliantly for families who want their kids burning energy without the postcard-hunting crowd, and it's the sort of place walkers slot in between other plans rather than make the day about.

We spent a solid hour here without feeling we'd missed anything, though you could easily do less if you're just after a quick leg-stretch. The main thing is checking what's actually open before you head out - details are thin on the ground online, so ringing ahead is sensible.

If you're staying at Baldock Park Homes or Ashridge Farm, Chapel Wood is close enough for a morning walk without turning it into a full expedition. It's the sort of stop that rounds out a park holiday nicely - fills an hour or two, tires people out, costs nothing. Not dramatic or special, but reliable.