Blackhatch Wood

Blackhatch Wood is a proper Sussex forest - the kind of place where you actually feel like you've stepped away from things rather than just wandered fifty metres off the high street. Near Lingfield, it's all dense woodland with decent walking trails that wind through mixed trees and the occasional clearing. The paths are well-maintained enough that you won't spend the whole time looking at your feet, which means you can actually notice the canopy above and the undergrowth below.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a five-minute tick-box sort of woodland - you need a couple of hours minimum to do it justice and feel like you've had something resembling a proper walk. Families with young kids might find it decent for an hour or so, though there's not a massive amount of play infrastructure, so you're relying on the kids just enjoying mooching about in the trees. Birdwatchers come here too, and there's enough wildlife tucked into the canopy to keep that sort occupied.

One thing worth knowing: the parking and access situation isn't entirely clear from available information, so it's worth checking locally in Lingfield before you head out. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're planning a proper explore.

If you're staying at Hook Farm Campsite - only 5.6 miles away - this would slot nicely into a day out. It's the sort of walk that works well before or after lunch rather than being a standalone destination, but that's not a criticism. Not everything needs to be a three-hour spectacle.