Mill Pond

The water at Mill Pond sits dead calm most mornings, reflecting the sky so perfectly you'd swear you were looking at a photograph. It's a proper working mill pond just outside Chichester, the kind of place that feels like locals' business rather than a tourist attraction - which is precisely why it works.

You can walk the perimeter easily enough, though the path gets a bit muddy after rain. Fishermen turn up regularly, and birdwatchers reckon it's decent for spotting herons and the odd kingfisher if you're patient and quiet. The water itself has that murky, tea-coloured quality of old Sussex ponds - utterly peaceful but not exactly inviting for a swim.

It's free, obviously. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for a gentle loop, longer if you're serious about the birds. Go early morning or late afternoon when the light's best and the place feels properly serene rather than just... wet and flat.

For a camping holiday in the area, it slots in nicely with the better-known attractions around Chichester. Creative Camping and Stubcroft Farm Campsite are both close by, so you could easily make it part of a morning walk before heading elsewhere. It won't hold your attention all day, but as a quiet start to the morning - a cup of tea and a bit of fresh air before the real sightseeing begins - it does the job.