Boothland Wood

The woodland walk through Boothland Wood near Lewes is one of those quiet Sussex corners you stumble upon by accident and immediately wonder why it isn't rammed with visitors. It's a proper mixed woodland - oak, beech, hazel - with the sort of mossy floor that feels properly ancient underfoot. The trails wind through without being overly maintained, which is rather the point. You're not getting a nature reserve with information boards and a gift shop; you're getting a wood that feels like it belongs to locals rather than tourists.

Walkers will love it. The paths are straightforward enough for families with decent boots, though it gets muddy after rain - which it often is in Sussex. You can lose an hour wandering through here quite happily, picking out the different tree types and listening for birds. It's the sort of place where you'll spot a muntjac if you're quiet enough, though don't count on it.

The proximity to Dernwood Farm Glamping makes this a natural add-on to a longer park stay in the area. You can knock out a couple of hours here before breakfast, or use it as an afternoon break from sitting in a field. Lewes itself is worth the short drive for its steep high street and proper independent shops, but Boothland Wood is the thing you do when you want to actually be in nature rather than looking at tea towels.

No facilities to speak of - bring water. Free, naturally. Best in autumn when the light filters through properly.