Harting Down

The chalk ridge rises sharply from the South Downs landscape, and within twenty minutes of leaving Chichester you're standing on Harting Down with views that stretch across West Sussex in three directions. It's a proper walk - the climb from the car park isn't gentle, but the payoff is immediate. The summit sits at just under 700 metres, and on a clear day you can see right across to the coast.

What makes it work is the sheer simplicity of the place. There's no visitor centre, no café, no souvenir shop. Just downland - rough grass, patches of scrub, and the sort of wind that comes off the Channel. Walkers and their dogs make up the bulk of visitors, though families with older kids do fine here. The main path is well-trodden enough, but you can lose the crowds by wandering onto the narrower trails that branch off the summit. The wildflower display in early summer is worth timing your visit around.

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip including a sit-down at the top. It's free, obviously. If you're staying at one of the local caravan parks - Bow Hill Farm is barely three miles away, or Adhurst Yurts if you fancy something different - this makes an excellent morning sortie. The walk works best in spring or autumn when the temperature doesn't punish you for the climb. Winter can be muddy and slippery; summer brings the day-trippers from Chichester. Go early or stay late.