East Brighton Park

The shingle and chalk cliffs along Brighton's eastern edge aren't what most visitors come for, but they should be. East Brighton Park is a working nature reserve that sits right on the coast, where you'll find proper views across the Channel and some genuinely interesting geology if you know what you're looking at. The chalk is unstable - hence the fencing and the occasional falls - which actually creates the kind of cliff-face habitat that's rare now in Sussex. You get wildflowers in spring, nesting birds through summer, and in autumn the migration season brings in serious birdwatchers with their spotting scopes.

Walkers will find this more rewarding than a stroll along Brighton seafront proper. The paths wind along the cliff edge, and it's the sort of place where you notice things - rabbits in the scrubland, bee orchids if you're lucky, the particular quality of light on a grey afternoon. It's not dramatic like the Seven Sisters, but it's got character. Allow an hour minimum, more if you're into birds or plants. The nearest car park is tight and the paths can be muddy after rain, so decent shoes matter.

Stay at Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - it's barely a tenth of a mile away - and you can reach this in five minutes on foot. Chalky Downs, a couple of miles west, also works well if you prefer a quieter base. Worth combining with a proper beach day, honestly, rather than making this a standalone trip.