Cobbs Mill

The view from Cobbs Mill, just outside Henfield, catches you off guard. You're standing at a proper vantage point where the South Downs roll away in front of you - nothing between your eye and the horizon except fields and the occasional church spire. It's the kind of spot where a five-minute stop turns into twenty because you can't quite bring yourself to leave.

This is a viewpoint, pure and simple. No cafe, no facilities, no crowds. You pull up, get out, look at the view, and either you're satisfied or you're not. The walk up is brief enough that even restless kids won't complain, though they'll need something to do once they get there - it's not the sort of place that entertains for hours. What it does do brilliantly is give you a sense of where you are in the landscape. Useful if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Blacklands Farm or Southdown Way and want to orientate yourself without driving far.

Go when the weather's clear - that's non-negotiable. A misty day renders the whole thing pointless. Early morning or late afternoon light transforms it into something properly photogenic. It works best as a stop on a longer walk or a break between other attractions rather than a destination in itself. Free, obviously. No hours to speak of, so you can turn up whenever. Twenty minutes maximum if you're being efficient, longer if you actually want to take it in.