Hooker's Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a theme-park sort of experience, Hooker's Wood sits just inland from Winchelsea and gives you everything you'd want from a Sussex forest without the crowds. Beech and oak dominate, with a good network of trails that range from gentle loops to proper woodland rambles. The canopy's thick enough that even on warm days it stays cool underfoot, and in autumn the leaf-fall is genuinely worth timing a visit around.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the kind of place you spend a couple of hours properly exploring rather than a quick photo stop. Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after forty minutes or so, unless they're the type to hunt for fallen branches and build dens. The woodland floor's damp most of the year, so good boots are essential - I'd avoid it right after heavy rain when the main paths become proper boggy.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Winchelsea Sands is practically on the doorstep, or you've got Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands if you're after something with more facilities - Hooker's Wood works as a morning walk before the beach gets rammed. No entrance fee that I could find, and there's usually space to park near the entrance. Allow two to three hours if you want to do it properly without rushing. Late spring's lovely when the bluebells are out, though they go over quickly.