Gensing Gardens

The gardens sit on a steep slope overlooking Saint Leonards-on-Sea, and the climb up to them rewards you with views across the Sussex coastline that justify every step. It's a proper nature reserve rather than a manicured garden - wildflowers, native plants, and proper woodland paths that wind through a genuinely wild bit of the South Coast.

The reserve works well for anyone who likes a good walk without too much faffing about. You're looking at an hour to ninety minutes to do it properly, poking about in the undergrowth and taking in the views. Kids will enjoy spotting wildlife and clambering on the steeper sections, though pushchair access is limited once you get past the initial paths. History enthusiasts might appreciate the former gardens that shaped what's here now, though there's nothing dramatically old to gawk at - it's more about what nature's done with the space.

Free to visit, open all hours - it's a reserve, not a ticketed attraction. Best in late spring when the wildflowers are actually doing something worth photographing, and avoid peak summer unless you fancy crowds on the paths.

If you're staying at Seven Acre Woods just down the road, Gensing Gardens makes a cracking half-day excursion. The gardens give you proper Sussex countryside without having to drive far, which matters when you've got a caravan to return to. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though don't plan your entire holiday around it.