Whomerley Wood

The woodland around Whomerley Wood, just east of Hitchin, is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for - and that's entirely its charm. Ancient oak and beech stand thick here, with decent walking routes that wind through dappled shade and the occasional clearing where light actually reaches the forest floor. It's proper woodland, not a manicured nature reserve with information boards every fifty metres.

Walkers will find the most to get out of this one. The terrain is straightforward enough that families with older kids won't struggle, though toddlers might find the uneven ground tiresome. You're looking at a solid hour or two depending on which paths you take - enough to feel like you've actually been somewhere without eating an entire afternoon. The canopy is thick enough that even on drizzly days it's fairly manageable.

There's something restorative about Hertfordshire woodland that doesn't get much fanfare. No entrance fees that I'm aware of, no visitor centre faffing about. Just trees and paths and the sound of things rustling about in the undergrowth. Come in autumn if you can - the light cuts through differently then, and the ground's carpeted in leaf litter that's proper crunchy underfoot.

If you're staying at Jacks Hill Caravans or Baldock Park Homes, Whomerley Wood makes a logical morning venture before heading back for lunch. It's close enough that you won't waste petrol money getting there, but far enough from Hitchin that it still feels like an actual outing rather than a wander round the town outskirts.