Forty Acre Belt

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured attraction, Forty Acre Belt sits just outside Leiston in Suffolk and delivers exactly what its name promises - a decent stretch of forest you can actually lose yourself in for an hour or two. The paths wind through mixed woodland, and it's the kind of place where you might spot a muntjac deer if you're quiet enough, though honestly most visits are just about getting away from the coast's crowds without driving far.

This works best for walkers wanting something low-key, or families with kids old enough to handle uneven ground without complaining the whole way. It's free and open access, which is refreshing. Allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on which paths you take - it's not vast, but it doesn't feel cramped either. Come in spring for bluebells, autumn for decent colour.

If you're based at Beach View or Cakes & Ale Holiday Park nearby, it's a five-minute drive and saves you heading all the way to Rendlesham Forest if you just want a quick leg-stretch. It's not dramatic or Instagram-worthy, mind you. There are no viewpoints, no tea shop, no visitor centre. What you get is quiet woodland and space to think, which is rather the point. Worth combining with a visit to Leiston Abbey if you're after something with actual history attached.