Findon Dog Field

A sprawling grass field where dogs can properly let loose without a lead in sight. Findon Dog Field, just outside Pulborough in Sussex, is one of those unglamorous spots that locals swear by and most tourists completely miss.

What you get is straightforward: open grassland, room to run, and the kind of freedom that makes dogs lose their minds in the best way possible. There's nothing fancy here - no agility equipment, no water features, no cafe. It's just space. You'll see springer spaniels bombing across the turf, terriers doing laps, the occasional bemused owner being dragged along by something with too much energy.

If you're touring the South Downs with a dog, this beats fighting for space at crowded beaches. Park a caravan at Washington just down the road - it's barely four miles away and a solid base for the area - then come here when your dog's had enough of being cooped up. An hour's visit is plenty unless your dog's got genuine marathon tendencies.

Bring water in summer. The field can get boggy after rain, and there's no facilities whatsoever. No admission fee as far as anyone knows, which is the way these things should be. Go midweek if you can; weekends bring the crowds. It's not Instagram-worthy, but if you've got a dog that needs to burn energy before a long drive, it's exactly what you need.