Males Burgh

The earthworks here are what you're looking for - a proper Iron Age fort that sits above Newhaven and commands views across the Cuckmere Valley. Males Burgh is the sort of place that rewards a bit of effort on foot: you're walking through genuine Sussex downland, and the ramparts themselves still hold their shape after two and a half thousand years, which is rather extraordinary when you think about it.

It's not dramatic in the Instagram sense. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards to speak of, just the contours of ancient defences and the knowledge that people once gathered here to keep watch and keep safe. History types and serious walkers will get far more from this than families with restless kids - it requires imagination to visualize what was happening, and the walk itself matters as much as the destination.

You're looking at a proper hike from Newhaven, so allow a couple of hours minimum and wear decent boots. The site is free, naturally, being an archaeological remain on open downland. Winter's actually the best time to visit when vegetation is low and you can trace the ramparts more clearly. Spring works too if you're lucky with the weather.

If you're staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a solid half-day excursion that sits well within a broader South Downs walking itinerary. Pair it with the coastal paths or other chalk hill walks in the area - you're in cracking walking country here.