East Blean Woods

A stretch of ancient woodland just outside Canterbury, East Blean Woods is the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan for - though that doesn't make it any less worth your time. The trails wind through proper old-growth forest, the kind where light filters through in patches and you can actually hear yourself think. It's managed by the Woodland Trust, so the paths are well-maintained without feeling over-engineered.

Walkers get the most out of this one. There's enough woodland to justify a good hour's ramble, and the paths are straightforward enough that you won't spend half the time checking your phone for navigation. Families with younger kids might find it a touch limiting - it's woods, essentially, not a playground - but older children who actually enjoy a proper walk will be fine. The forest floor is soft underfoot, which helps.

Free to access, no visitor centre to queue at, no admission fees. Just turn up and go. Spring brings the usual woodland flowers, autumn's decent for colour, but honestly it works year-round if you don't mind damp. The main draw is being able to escape Canterbury's tourist crowds without actually going far - you're only a couple of miles from the city centre, yet it feels genuinely remote.

If you're camping at Nethergong or Canterbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite nearby, this is an obvious half-day break from the holiday park routine. Nothing flashy, no Instagram moments, just a proper walk through English woodland.