Nutley Windmill

A proper working windmill stands proud on the ridge above Haywards Heath, its white weatherboarded tower and fantail catching the light in a way that stops you dead. Nutley Windmill is the real deal - still grinding flour on occasion, which is rarer than you'd think for mills of this age.

You get a genuine sense of what milling life looked like in the 19th century. The machinery inside is all original business - no museum dressing, just cast iron and wood doing what it's always done. The climb to the cap deck rewards you with proper views across the Weald, and on a clear day you can see Sussex spreading out in all directions. It's not a vast visitor attraction with cafes and gift shops; it's more of a working landmark you can visit and poke around.

Walkers absolutely love this spot because it sits on good footpaths - you're not stuck in a car park, you're out in the landscape. Families with patient kids and a genuine interest in how things work get more from it than those expecting theme park entertainment. Realistically, allow 45 minutes to an hour unless you're talking at length with the volunteers.

If you're camping at Wild Boar Wood or Hook Farm, it's absolutely worth the short drive to include on your park holiday itinerary. Spring and early autumn are best - less chance of getting rained on, and the light's proper lovely. Check locally before you go though, as opening varies.