Little Park Wood

A proper woodland walk within easy reach of Hastings, Little Park Wood delivers the goods if you want to escape the seaside crowds without driving far. It's a modest forest - nothing dramatic - but the paths are decent and the trees do their job of making you forget you're near the coast.

The main appeal is simplicity. You get woodland shade, a network of trails that don't demand navigation skills, and the kind of quiet you won't find on the promenade. Families with young walkers will manage fine here; older kids won't complain about the distance, and dogs absolutely thrive on the soft ground underfoot. History buffs, though, should probably spend their time elsewhere - this is about trees and fresh air, not Tudor ruins.

Allows a solid hour or two depending on how leisurely you fancy it. There's no café, no facilities that I'm aware of, so bring what you need. It's free, which is worth noting.

If you're staying at Winchelsea Sands or Rye Harbour, you're perfectly positioned. The wood sits between those parks and Hastings itself, making it a natural half-day outing that breaks up a beach-focused holiday. Not spectacular, but genuinely useful. The forest doesn't pretend to be more than it is, which is rather refreshing.