Eastbourne Downs Golf Club

The Downs course here sits on proper high ground above Pevensey, and on a clear day you're looking straight out towards the coast. It's a genuine downland track - the sort that gets under your skin after a round or two. Eighteen holes winding through undulating terrain with views that shift constantly as you move through the course.

You'll need to be a member or get a visitor's pass to play, and it's worth ringing ahead to check availability and green fees. Even a modest golfer will appreciate the challenge; the layout rewards accuracy far more than distance, and the wind up here can catch you out. Allow a full afternoon - it's not a quick nine-holer.

This works particularly well if you're basing yourself at Warren Wood Country Park just under five miles away. That site's highly rated, and having a proper round booked in gives you a focal point for a golfing break in the area. The proximity to Pevensey means you can easily swing by the castle afterwards if history's your thing, or grab a decent lunch.

Families without golfers in tow might find it less gripping - there's not much to do here if you're not playing. But serious golfers, especially those after a bit of Sussex downland character rather than a manicured resort, should investigate. The course has genuine appeal for mid-handicappers looking for something tactically interesting.