Mill Lake

Mill Lake sits just outside Haywards Heath, a proper working landscape that's been shaped by water for centuries. You're looking at a reservoir that's become something of a local favourite - shallow, peaceful, and ringed with accessible paths that won't knacker you out. The water's clear enough on a decent day, and there's actual wildlife here: kingfishers if you're lucky, and the usual collection of ducks and herons that seem to congregate wherever there's a decent body of water in Sussex.

Walkers get the most from this one. The circuit takes about forty minutes at a gentle pace, and it's flat enough that you won't spend the whole time grumbling about your knees. Bird watchers should bring binoculars - you'll spot more than you expect. Families with small kids will manage fine, though there's not much to actively do once you've completed the loop, so don't expect to kill a full afternoon here unless you're quite into just standing about looking at water.

Free to visit, naturally. Spring and early summer are when it's genuinely worth the trip - the light's better and you'll actually see something other than grey water and grey sky. Winter's rather dull by comparison. If you're based at Wild Boar Wood or Hook Farm, both within a couple of miles, Mill Lake makes an easy morning outing before heading elsewhere for proper entertainment. It's not a destination in itself, but it's a solid addition to a day's rambling around the area.