Mount Pleasant

The South Downs rise up sharply just inland from Brighton, and Mount Pleasant is where locals go to shake off the seafront crowds. It's not a dramatic peak by any stretch - more of a proper hill walk that rewards you with open views across the Weald and back towards the coast. The summit itself is straightforward to reach, probably forty minutes or so from the nearest car park, depending on your fitness and which route you take.

The appeal is straightforward: you get a real sense of elevation without needing crampons or a packed rope, and the paths are well-maintained enough that families with reasonably fit kids won't struggle. On a clear day the visibility is genuinely good, though I won't pretend it's a rare Alpine revelation. The surrounding downland is proper walking country, so you can easily string together a longer loop if you've got the time.

What works best is treating it as part of a wider South Downs morning rather than a destination in itself. Combine it with a walk down through the villages or across to the next valley over. If you're camped at Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, just a mile away, or Chalky Downs a touch further on, it's an obvious early start before the day gets too warm.

Go on a weekday if you can - weekends pull in enough day-trippers that the narrow sections get a bit congested. Free to access, naturally. Bring water; there's no facilities at the top.