Coney Woods

The woodland walk through Coney Woods, just inland from Brighton, catches most people off guard with how wild it feels given the coast is only a few miles south. You're threading through dense stands of beech and oak, the sort of place where the light filters green through the canopy and you genuinely lose track of the car park within five minutes.

It's a proper walker's spot rather than a scenic viewpoint job. The paths are decent enough but muddy after rain - proper wellies territory. Most folk allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on how many side routes they explore. There's nothing grand or dramatic about it, which is precisely why it works. No queues, no turnstiles, just trees and quiet.

Families with kids who can manage uneven ground will do well here. It's not a "push the buggy round" affair though - you need to be mobile. History buffs might know it as a former hunting ground, but there's precious little signage explaining that. Birdwatchers get genuine value if you're patient.

Since it's near Brighton, the holiday parks around here - Downsview Park and Blackberry Wood are both within five miles - make this a decent add-on for a morning before heading into town or toward the coast proper. Free to wander, and the whole experience won't cost you a penny. Go when the light's low in early morning or late afternoon; midday feels a bit samey under all those trees.