Brownhill Furze

Brownhill Furze is a proper Sussex woodland just outside Horsham - the sort of place that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards a quiet wander. The forest floor is thick with bracken and heather, especially come autumn, and the mix of oak and conifer creates that particular smell you only get in English woodland after rain.

It's ideal if you're camped at one of the nearby spots like Honeybridge Park or Washington Caravan & Camping, barely a couple of miles away. You won't need much time here - an hour's walk is enough to get the feel of it - but it's the kind of place that settles you down after driving about. The paths are manageable rather than ambitious, which means families with younger kids or anyone after a gentle leg-stretch won't feel pressured to do anything heroic.

Walkers will appreciate the quietness of it. This isn't Ashdown Forest with crowds; it's local woodland where you might see the odd dog walker and not much else. If you're staying at Knepp Wildland Safaris nearby, you've already got proper wildlife watching on the agenda, so Brownhill works as a different kind of nature experience - less curated, more just you and the trees.

Best visited when it's not raining enough to make the paths a mud bath but wet enough that the place feels atmospheric. Late afternoon light through the trees is lovely. Free to access, no facilities to speak of, so come prepared. Worth the detour if you're in the area for a few days rather than a quick pit stop.