Grimes Wood

The woods around Battle in Sussex aren't dramatic or famous, but Grimes Wood is the sort of place that rewards a quiet morning walk without expecting much fanfare. It's proper woodland - mixed trees, decent paths, the kind of spot where you might spot a roe deer if you're lucky and keep your noise down.

This works best for walkers who want something real rather than manicured. Families with young kids will manage it fine if the paths are dry, though there's nothing here to make them shriek with excitement. A couple of hours is enough to get the feel of it and work off some energy before heading into Battle itself, which is only a few miles away and worth an afternoon of its own given the Abbey and the town's history.

The actual draw is simple: woodland air, the chance to clear your head, and being genuinely off any main road. It's the kind of place where a good sturdy pair of boots matters more than a packed itinerary. Summer's pleasant enough, but autumn here is genuinely worth timing a trip for.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Beech Estate or Fontmills Farm are closest at around four miles - this makes an easy morning addition to a longer Sussex break. It's not going to anchor a holiday, but it's exactly what you need when you want to actually be in a forest rather than visit one.