Long Brook Shaw

Deep in the Sussex countryside near Heathfield, Long Brook Shaw is a proper woodland walk where you'll find yourself surrounded by ancient trees and the sort of quiet that actually feels rare these days. It's not a manicured country estate - this is genuine forest, the kind where you notice the light filtering through the canopy and hear nothing but birdsong and your own footsteps on the path.

The walk itself winds through mixed woodland with a decent amount of shade, making it ideal for a hot summer's day. You're looking at around an hour or so if you take it at a leisurely pace, though you could stretch it to two hours if you potter about spotting wildlife. Families with older kids will manage fine, though it's not ideal for pushchairs - the paths can get muddy and uneven, particularly after rain.

Who'll love it most? Walkers after a genuine escape rather than a tourist-branded attraction, and anyone interested in native woodland ecosystems. Bring a bird identification guide if you're that way inclined. There's genuine tranquillity here, the sort you don't get near manicured parks.

If you're staying at The Secret Campsite just six miles away, this makes a logical morning or afternoon venture. It's the kind of place that slots perfectly into a wider Sussex walking itinerary - not a destination in itself, but absolutely worth the detour if you're already in the area.