Oak Wood

The woodland walk through Oak Wood is a proper tonic if you're staying in the Hastings area and need to escape the seafront crowds. You're looking at a decent stretch of mature oak and mixed deciduous trees - the sort of place where you can actually hear birdsong rather than arcade machines. It's free to access, which helps, and the paths are well-maintained enough that you won't need serious walking boots, though waterproofs are sensible after rain.

Families with younger kids will get a solid hour or so out of it. Older ones might find it a bit samey unless they're genuinely interested in trees and wildlife. For serious walkers and nature types, it's worth the detour from Winchelsea Sands Holiday Park - only 5.4 miles away - as part of a longer ramble through the area. The canopy is thick enough that even on warm days you'll stay relatively cool, which matters if you're visiting in summer.

The best approach is to go mid-morning before the school run families arrive, and in autumn when the light filters through properly. Spring's decent too if the bluebells are out. Don't expect dramatic vistas or ancient structures - this is straightforward woodland, nothing more. But if you want green quiet without travelling miles from your holiday park, it delivers exactly that.