Friston Forest

The forest rises sudden and dark above the Newhaven valley, a proper wall of conifers that catches you off guard if you're coming from the coast. Friston Forest runs to about 400 hectares, which sounds vast until you're actually in it and realise how quickly the sea views vanish behind the trees.

Walkers will get the most from this one. There's a decent network of trails ranging from short loops around the perimeter to longer routes that push deeper into the plantation. The paths are well-trodden and reasonably maintained, though they can get boggy after rain. Most visitors spend between one and three hours here, depending on pace and how lost they're willing to get.

The forest itself isn't ancient woodland - it's commercial forestry with a mix of Corsican pines and spruces - so don't expect the mossy magic of the New Forest. What you do get is genuine solitude and, on clear days, glimpses back towards the South Downs. There's something oddly meditative about walking through dense trees after spending time on the exposed clifftops nearby.

It's free to explore, though car parking arrangements aren't entirely clear from the ground level information available. If you're staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park just outside Newhaven, Friston Forest makes a logical half-day detour - you're already in the area, and it breaks up a week of seaside routine nicely. Best visited mid-week to avoid the weekend crowd, slim though it usually is.