High and Over

The walk up High and Over from Newhaven takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a steady pace, and the views across the Cuckmere Valley make every step worthwhile. It's a proper Sussex downland walk - chalk grassland, open sky, the kind of place where you can actually breathe. From the top you get the full sweep of the South Downs, and on a clear day the sea's right there too. The summit itself isn't dramatic, no cairn or monument, just a high point where the landscape opens up in all directions.

Walkers will love this one. It's accessible enough that families with older kids can manage it, though younger children might find the steady climb tedious. The paths are well-trodden and obvious - no scrambling required. History buffs should know the ridge has been a trade route for centuries, and Newhaven itself has a working harbour worth exploring before or after the walk.

Time-wise, give yourself two hours including the walk up and back down. There's no admission fee - it's open ground. Best visited in spring or autumn when the chalk grassland comes alive with wildflowers and you're not melting on the climb. If you're staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park nearby, this makes an excellent morning or afternoon outing to break up the park routine. The downland scenery is quintessential Sussex, and unlike some of the more famous South Downs walks, it doesn't get rammed with visitors.