Haven Brow

The walk up to Haven Brow rewards you with one of the South Downs' most dramatic coastal views - though the chalk cliff scramble to reach it isn't for the faint-hearted. It's that rare viewpoint where the view genuinely lives up to the effort required to get there. You're standing on the edge of proper Sussex downland looking out across the Channel, with the white cliffs dropping away below you in a way that makes your stomach flip a bit.

This is worth doing if you're already exploring the Downs around Hailsham and fancy something more active than a casual stroll. Families with confident walkers will manage fine, though younger children might find the final approach nerve-wracking rather than fun. The whole walk takes about an hour depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top.

Timing matters here. Go on a clear day and it's properly spectacular. Fog rolls in and you're standing in white nothingness wondering why you bothered. Autumn and early spring tend to be best - fewer summer crowds and better visibility. Summer weekends get busy with local hikers.

If you're staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park near Hailsham, Haven Brow makes an excellent half-day excursion that beats sitting around the caravan. It's the sort of place where you'll take a dozen photos and still feel like none of them quite capture how big and wild it actually is up there.