Broadfield Wood

The woods around Heathfield offer proper walking territory, and Broadfield Wood delivers what you'd hope for - dense deciduous forest, decent tracks underfoot, and enough space to actually feel away from things. It's the sort of place where you can lose an hour without thinking about it, which is exactly what a forest walk should do.

You'll find yourself among beech and oak mostly, with the ground soft from leaf litter and bracken in places. The paths are manageable rather than dramatic - no cliff edges or viewpoints to write home about, but that's not really the point. It's good for families with older kids who can manage uneven ground, and walkers after a proper stretch of the legs rather than a quick circuit.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Horam Manor Country Park, Dernwood Farm, or Hale Farm are all within a couple of miles - this makes an excellent half-day expedition. The seasonal light through the canopy in autumn and spring is when it feels best, though honestly it works year-round if the ground hasn't turned into a bog.

Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushing. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so bring water and don't expect much beyond the trees themselves. It's honest woodland, neither oversold nor underwhelming - just a decent forest doing what forests do. That's plenty.