Dew Gill

You'll find Dew Gill tucked away in the Sussex countryside near Winchelsea - a proper forest walk rather than a tourist attraction with signs and facilities. It's the kind of place where you actually need to know it's there, which means you'll likely have the paths to yourself, especially midweek.

The woodland itself is dense and atmospheric, with the kind of damp forest floor that smells right after rain. Paths wind through established trees, and there's a real sense of being away from things despite being close to the coast. It's ideal for anyone after a straightforward woodland walk without crowds or the exhausting ups and downs of the South Downs. Give yourself an hour to two hours depending on how far you fancy exploring.

History buffs might appreciate that this area has plenty of medieval echoes - Winchelsea itself is worth a look before or after - but Dew Gill is really about the walk itself rather than any specific landmark. Children tend to enjoy it if they're decent walkers, though there's nothing particularly exciting for under-eights beyond poking around in the undergrowth.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Winchelsea Sands is closest at three and a half miles - Dew Gill works well as a morning escape before heading to the coast or exploring Rye's medieval streets. It's free and you can turn up whenever suits. Proper quietness is increasingly rare around here, so that alone makes it worth the detour.