Gallow Hill Belt

The Belt around Wells-next-the-Sea is a proper Norfolk surprise - a strip of mature woodland that somehow feels like a secret despite sitting right on the edge of town. Pine and deciduous trees create a canopy that's dark enough to feel enclosed but open enough that you're never lost, and the walking paths are well-trodden without being rammed.

It's the sort of place you stumble into while exploring the coast rather than specifically travel for, but once you're in, it's genuinely peaceful. The forest floor is soft underfoot and the air smells right - earthy, quiet. You'll spot woodland birds if you go early, and there are enough paths to make it easy to spend a couple of hours without doubling back on yourself.

Families with younger children will find it manageable - the terrain isn't tricky and there's enough distance to burn off energy without it becoming a proper hike. History types won't find much to study here beyond the woodland itself, but walkers heading out from Wells will appreciate how the Belt connects the inland bits with the coastal paths and marshes.

If you're staying at Pinewoods Holiday Park just down the road, this is exactly the sort of local walk that makes a holiday properly restorative rather than just exhausting. No entrance fee, no faffing about - just turn up and wander. Early morning or late afternoon works best if you want any sense of solitude, though it's never going to be crowded.