Clive Vale Reservoir - Bottom Pond

The water here is mirror-flat most mornings, which catches you off guard when you've driven out from Hastings expecting something more dramatic. Clive Vale Reservoir's Bottom Pond is essentially a working water supply body with a walking circuit around it - nothing fancy, but genuinely pleasant if you're after a straightforward leg-stretcher.

The path is easy going, fairly level, and takes maybe 45 minutes to an hour depending on pace and how many times you stop to watch the waterfowl. There's something calming about water in Sussex countryside, all open sky and shallow banks. It's not the sort of place that'll make your jaw drop, but it's proper decent for a morning walk before heading to the beach at Hastings, or if you're staying at Winchelsea Sands Holiday Park and fancy getting out of the caravan for a bit.

Families with young kids will manage it without complaint - no steep bits, clear pathways. Birdwatchers might spend longer here; the pond attracts coots, ducks, and various waders depending on season. You won't find cafes or facilities, so bring water if you're planning the full loop.

It's the sort of local spot that works well as part of a wider day out rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a walk through Hastings Old Town and you've got a decent Sussex morning. Free access as far as I can tell, though it's worth checking locally if conditions are open after heavy rain, since it's an active reservoir.