Crouch's Wood

The woodland around Crouch's Wood, just outside Cranbrook, is the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan for - all dappled shade and the smell of leaf mould after rain. It's proper forest walking country, dense enough that you lose sight of the outside world within minutes, yet close enough to town that you're never far from a decent pub. The paths wind through mixed woodland with enough variation to keep things interesting: open clearings, dense thickets, the occasional glimpse of managed woodland where you can see someone's been at work with an axe. There's no visitor centre or cafe, which some will see as a drawback and others will appreciate as honesty. Bring your own supplies.

This works best for people who actually enjoy walking rather than those after a quick family photo stop. Children need to be the type who don't mind mud on their trainers and can entertain themselves without signage telling them what tree they're looking at. Forty minutes to an hour is about right for a decent circuit, though you could stretch it longer if you're the type to stop and listen. It's free, which matters when you're camping at Glassenbury or Hopgarden just a few miles away - those sites are within easy reach for an afternoon sortie.

The wood is at its best in autumn when the floor becomes a proper carpet of colour, or in spring when the undergrowth isn't too thick. Summer can feel a bit claustrophobic. Winter's fine if you've got decent boots. Go on a weekday morning if you want it to yourself.