Hangman's Wood

The woodland around Dunmow has a grim name but nothing sinister about it when you're actually walking through. Hangman's Wood is a proper Essex forest - the sort of place where you can lose an hour without meaning to, wandering between oaks and finding the occasional clearing with decent views across the countryside. The name apparently dates back centuries, though nobody seems entirely sure what the original story was, which adds a bit of local colour to proceedings.

It's ideal for families who don't need a visitor centre or gift shop to enjoy themselves. Walkers will appreciate the interconnected paths that let you string together a circuit of anything from twenty minutes to a couple of hours depending on how lost you want to get. The woodland floor changes seasonally - bluebells in spring, properly golden in autumn - and there's enough space that you won't feel crowded even on weekends.

There's no fee and no opening hours listed, which means you can turn up whenever suits. Early morning is lovely if you want the place quieter. The nearest town is Dunmow, which gives you somewhere to grab coffee or lunch before or after. Both Dairymeade Farm Glamping and Hill Farm campsite are within four miles, so it works well as a morning activity if you're based at either of those for a longer stay. Don't expect facilities - it's a wood, not a country park - but that's rather the point.