Hog Trough Shaw

The name alone promises something unusual - and Hog Trough Shaw delivers on that front. It's a proper Sussex woodland, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, tucked away near Battle with a distinctly local feel. Walking through here feels like stepping into the county's working landscape rather than visiting a manicured attraction.

What you get is straightforward: woodland paths threading through mixed tree coverage, plenty of shade, and the kind of quiet that's increasingly rare. It's ideal for families after a couple of hours off the beaten track, or anyone who wants a proper walk without the crowds you'll find at the better-known Sussex spots. Walkers especially will appreciate the lack of tourist infrastructure - there's something refreshing about that.

If you're staying at Crowhurst Park or Beech Estate Campsite just down the road, this is the sort of place you'd pop to without thinking twice. It won't take all day, but it's well worth the detour if you're based locally. The woodland itself is unremarkable in the best sense - no exotic features, no Instagram moments, just genuine Sussex forest. Go when it's dry if you can; muddy paths here are genuinely boggy in places.

Bring proper footwear and perhaps pack a picnic. This isn't a destination attraction, but it's exactly the kind of local resource that makes a holiday in this corner of Sussex feel authentic rather than touristy.