Gentles Copse

You'll need to know what you're looking for when you arrive at Gentles Copse. This small woodland sits near Godalming in Hampshire, the kind of place locals know but tourists often miss. The trees are proper mature - oak, beech, and ash mostly - with a quiet carpet of woodland floor that's lovely after rain.

It's a walker's spot rather than a destination in itself. The paths wind through without any grand vistas or dramatic clearings, just that sense of being enclosed by green that makes you slow down. Figure on twenty minutes to half an hour depending on your pace and how often you stop. There's no café, no visitor centre, no facilities to speak of - bring what you need.

Historically keen types might appreciate that it's a remnant of older Hampshire woodland, but there's no interpretation boards or marked trail. You're essentially wandering a slice of what the countryside looked like before industrialisation took hold.

Families with young children might find it a bit thin for a full afternoon - it's more of a leg-stretcher than an adventure. Adults after a proper woodland walk, though, will find it worth the detour. If you're staying at Feather Down Manor Farm nearby, it's a realistic half-hour jaunt that breaks up the day well. Free access, as far as anyone can tell, and it fills the gap nicely between activities.