Stricklands Plantation

The woodland here sits quietly on the outskirts of Salisbury, the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan a morning around. Stricklands Plantation is a working forest - proper old-growth woodland with enough paths to keep you occupied for an hour or two, depending on how deep you want to venture. The canopy's dense enough that it feels remote despite being so close to town, and after rain the forest floor becomes this rich dark mulch that smells exactly how childhood woodland should.

Walkers get the most from this. If you're after a genuine forest wander rather than manicured park routes, there's something satisfying about the undisturbed feel of it. Families with kids aged eight and up will find enough to explore without the usual queues or admission fees. The paths aren't signposted to death, which means you can actually get a bit lost if you're not paying attention - refreshing compared to the heavily managed woodland you find elsewhere.

Stay local at Summerlands Caravan Park, just six miles away, and you've got yourself a solid base. It's highly rated, and from there you can hit Salisbury's high street on rainy days before returning to the forest trails. Allow two hours minimum if you're actually exploring rather than just doing a lap. Spring and autumn are your best bets - winter gets boggy, and summer can feel a touch claustrophobic under all that leaf cover. Free to access and low-pressure, which is precisely what you want from an afternoon in the woods.