Hockerhill Wood

The woodland floor here is properly springy - all moss and leaf litter under your boots - and you won't find crowds fighting over the best spot. Hockerhill Wood is a straightforward forest walk just east of Bury Saint Edmunds, the sort of place locals know better than tourists. You're weaving between sturdy oak and beech trees, with paths that stay reasonably dry even after rain, though the Suffolk flatlands mean there's no dramatic elevation change to get your heart racing.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a destination attraction with interpretive boards and a visitor centre - just good honest woodland where you can actually hear yourself think. The paths loop through without too much faffing about, so you can do a gentle hour's amble or stretch it to ninety minutes if you're the lingering type. Families with young kids will manage fine as long as they're content with trees rather than play equipment.

Being free and accessible makes it a solid bet alongside the nearby caravan parks - Church View Campsite is barely a mile away, or Kings Forest and The Four Bells Glamping are just down the road. It slots in perfectly as a morning walk break between bigger attractions or a way to burn off energy before dinner. The best light filters through around mid-morning, especially in autumn when the colours actually do something interesting. Go when you're in the area rather than planning a trip specifically for Hockerhill - it's pleasant enough, but it won't change your life.