Hogg's Kiss Wood

The walk into Hogg's Kiss Wood, just east of Stowmarket, starts innocuously enough - a narrow path between fields that gradually thickens into proper woodland. Once you're in, it's genuinely lovely: tall oaks and beeches create a decent canopy, and the ground is soft underfoot even in drier months. You won't find formal trails or signage, which means it rewards a bit of poking about.

This is the sort of place walkers will appreciate far more than sightseers. There's no dramatic view or historical monument waiting at the end - it's the walk itself that matters. Ancient woodland types might find it interesting enough; the trees suggest it's been here a good while. Kids will get a kick out of exploring between the trunks for twenty minutes or so, though they might find it a bit samey if you're expecting some kind of destination.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Goldings is the closest at three miles - it's easily added to a day out without much faffing about. Stonham Barns is similarly convenient. The wood works best as a morning ramble or late afternoon break rather than a day-long expedition. Allow an hour to wander and double back without hurrying.

Worth the detour? Only if you like woodland for its own sake. It's not dramatic, not particularly rare, but it's a genuine bit of old Suffolk countryside that hasn't been over-managed. That counts for something.