Shadwell Wood

The woodland walks around Shadwell Wood deliver proper peace and quiet - which is increasingly rare near Saffron Walden. Ancient trees, dappled light through the canopy, and the kind of stillness that makes you actually hear birdsong rather than traffic. There's nothing fancy about it. No visitor centre, no interpretation boards, just forest doing what forest does.

You'll get the most from this if you're the type who walks for the sake of walking rather than ticking off landmarks. Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming after twenty minutes - there's no playground or water feature to break things up. But teenagers and serious walkers will appreciate the space and solitude.

The woodland is free to access and you can easily spend an hour or two exploring the various paths depending on how far you want to venture. Early morning is best if you're after wildlife spotting. Autumn turns the place properly golden, though winter has its own stark beauty.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Hidden Gem Glamping, Readers Field, or HappenOak Treehouse are all within five miles - Shadwell Wood makes an excellent leg-stretcher without needing to travel far. It's the kind of place that justifies choosing the countryside over a city break, even if it's not going to be the main event of your holiday. Real enough though.