Long Wood

The trees here are proper tall, and you notice it the moment you step in. Long Wood near Dorking is straightforward stuff - a chunk of ancient woodland where you can walk among beech and oak, kick through leaf litter, and generally remember why people bother with forests at all. There's no visitor centre or coffee shop, which is either brilliant or tedious depending on your mood.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's the kind of place where an hour melts into two because the paths are decent and the canopy does that thing where it blocks out the world entirely. Children under ten might find it a bit samey unless they're the type who like turning over logs and looking for beetles. Adults after a proper think-time will love it.

You can access it freely as far as I can tell - there's no gate demanding payment. Go in autumn when the light comes through differently, or spring when the woodland floor is thick with bluebells. Summer's fine too, just muggier.

If you're staying at The Green Escape glamping site just six miles away, this makes a natural morning excursion before you settle in for an evening around the fire. It's not a destination by itself unless you're serious about woodland walking, but as part of a Surrey break it fits perfectly. Allow two hours minimum.