Engry Wood

If you've got an afternoon to kill between Ipswich and the coast, Engry Wood delivers without fuss. It's a proper Essex woodland - the kind where you can actually lose the sound of traffic after about fifty metres - with paths that wind through decent-sized trees and enough space to feel like you've actually left something behind.

You won't find visitor centres or gift shops here. It's straightforward walking territory, fine for families who don't need a playground at the end of it, and exactly the thing if you're after an hour's peace without needing to book tickets or plan your life around opening times. The paths are manageable for most ages, though take wellies in winter because it gets soggy.

Honestly? It's not going to blow your mind if you're visiting from somewhere that actually has ancient woodland. But if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Suffolk Steel House is barely a mile away - it's brilliant for breaking up a glamping weekend or letting the kids burn energy before dinner. The Lost Garden Retreat and Strangers Holiday Park are both close enough for a morning walk without it feeling like a mission.

Go when it's not raining if you can, and don't expect dramatic vistas. What you get is a quiet corner of Essex where you can actually think, which feels increasingly rare. Thirty minutes will show you the bones of it; an hour if you fancy a proper wander.