Beddingham Hill

The walk up Beddingham Hill from Newhaven takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the reward at the top is genuinely worth the effort. You get proper views across the Sussex weald - rolling farmland stretching back inland, with the chalk cliffs visible to the south. It's the kind of walk that feels longer than it actually is because the path climbs steadily rather than giving you an easy warm-up.

Historically-minded types will appreciate that this spot sits on ancient routes through the South Downs, though there's not much in the way of monuments or marked heritage bits. What you're really here for is the landscape and the sense of being somewhere with real depth to it. On a clear day you can pick out landmarks for miles.

Families with walkers aged eight and up will manage it without too much fuss, though smaller children might find the sustained incline tedious. There's nothing to do at the top itself - no cafe, no visitor centre - so pack water and snacks if you're making an afternoon of it. Go in autumn or spring when the weather's settled and you've got light until mid-evening.

If you're based at Three Ponds Holiday Park nearby, this makes a straightforward half-day excursion. The walk is free, naturally, and you can combine it with exploring Newhaven itself on the way back. It's not dramatic like the Seven Sisters cliffs, but it's proper Sussex walking country - the kind of place locals know better than tourists.