Horseye Shaw

Horseye Shaw is a proper woodland walk just outside Battle in East Sussex, the sort of place locals know about and visitors stumble upon by accident. It's ancient forest - the kind with gnarled oaks and a real sense of age to it - and the paths wind through dense undergrowth that feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from the town centre.

You're not paying to get in here, and there's no visitor centre or café nonsense. Just woodland. The walk itself takes between 30 and 90 minutes depending on which route you take and how much you dawdle looking at trees, which most people do. In spring the floor's carpeted with bluebells. Autumn's equally good if you like that golden light filtering through bare branches.

It's ideal for families with kids old enough to manage muddy paths without complaining - toddlers will find it a slog, but eight-year-olds upwards usually love it. Serious walkers get something genuine rather than manicured parkland. History types appreciate that you're walking through Sussex woodland that's been here for centuries.

Battle's where you'll find the nearest facilities and parking. The campsite at Beech Estate is barely a mile away, making this a cracking addition to a broader holiday in the area - combine it with a visit to Battle Abbey itself and you've got a decent day sorted. Seven Acre Woods and Crowhurst Park are also within easy driving distance if you want to string together multiple woodland spots across a week.