Hollingbury

The walk up to Hollingbury Hill from Brighton takes about forty minutes, and it's steep enough to have you breathing hard but not so punishing you'll regret it halfway through. The reward is a proper viewpoint - you're looking out over the city, the sea beyond, and on a clear day you can see right across the South Downs. There's an Iron Age fort up here too, though honestly the earthworks blend into the hillside now and need some imagination to picture them as they were.

This is walkers' territory, not a destination where you'll find a cafe or gift shop. Families with older kids will manage it fine; the under-fives might struggle. The views are the real draw - they're genuinely good, not oversold. Come on a weekday morning if you can, because weekends bring crowds up from Brighton and the car park fills quickly.

It works well as part of a broader South Downs walk rather than a stand-alone trip. From the campsite options nearby - Pegs and Pitches is closest at just 1.6 miles - you could tick Hollingbury off and then push further along the ridge towards the Devil's Dyke, which is probably the better panorama but takes longer. Chalky Downs is another good base at 2.1 miles out.

Free to visit, obviously. Allow ninety minutes if you're taking your time with photos. Go early or late to catch the light properly and avoid the weekend crush.