Camp Hill

The walk up Camp Hill takes about forty minutes from Haywards Heath, and it's genuinely one of those walks that feels harder than it looks. The path winds through proper Sussex woodland - all beech and bracken - before opening out onto the summit at 735 metres. The view, when you reach it, stretches across the Weald in layers of green and grey depending on the light. On a clear day you can make out the South Downs to the south. It's not Alpine scenery, but there's something quietly impressive about standing at the highest point around here and realising how much landscape fans out below you.

Walkers will get the most from Camp Hill. It's not a quick stroll, and the climb near the end is steep enough that small children might need encouragement. The reward is genuine solitude most days - this isn't a destination that pulls crowds the way some of the more famous South Downs spots do. Allow two to three hours for a proper visit, including time to sit on top and actually take it in rather than just ticking it off.

If you're camping at Wild Boar Wood, it's an easy morning excursion before heading back for breakfast. There's no charge to walk up, no facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Go early if you can - the light's better before noon, and you'll have the summit mostly to yourself.