Combe Valley Countryside Park

The valley floor opens up properly once you've cleared the tree line, and that's when Combe Valley reveals why locals keep coming back. It's a working countryside park just inland from Saint Leonards-on-Sea, where you can actually see what Sussex farming looks like rather than just driving past it. The paths wind through actual farmland - pasture, woodland, the lot - and there's a genuine sense of getting away from the coast crowds without going very far at all.

Walkers will find the most here. The terrain isn't demanding, but it's varied enough to stay interesting for a solid couple of hours. Kids do well too, though they'll need to be the type who can entertain themselves with nature spotting rather than expecting play equipment. Spring and early summer are cracking times to visit - lambs in the fields, wildflowers along the edges of things.

It's free to access, which makes it a proper no-brainer between seaside days. If you're staying at Beech Estate Campsite just down the road or Normans Bay a bit further along, this fills an afternoon without burning your holiday budget. The nearest facilities are back in Saint Leonards, so bring water if you're planning a longer walk. Realistic time allowance is two to three hours depending on how many paths you fancy exploring and how slowly you want to move. For anyone wanting a bit of green space between the promenade and the chip shops, this does exactly what it should.