Highdale Hill

The walk up Highdale Hill rewards you with proper views across Sussex - on a clear day you can see right down to the coast near Brighton. It's not a dramatic peak by any means, but the climb's gentle enough that families won't grind to a halt halfway up, and the surrounding downland has that open, rolling quality that makes you remember why people move to Sussex in the first place.

The hill itself is straightforward moorland walking. No technical bits, no scrambling about. You're looking at an hour's round trip from the car park if you're not dawdling, though most people take longer because there's proper countryside to admire - gorse and heather, sheep grazing, the usual South Downs cast of characters. Walkers will get the most from this one; it's the kind of spot where you can stretch your legs without needing to be a fell-runner about it.

From any of the nearby campsites - Chalky Downs is closest at just over three miles away - this makes a solid afternoon sortie before heading back for a barbecue. Brighton's close enough that you could combine it with a beach day, though Highdale Hill is really about getting away from the seafront crowds and remembering what the landscape actually looks like when people aren't involved.

Timing-wise, go midweek if you can. Weekends bring day-trippers, and the car park fills up. Early morning light is best - the views are sharper and you'll have the hill mostly to yourself.