Oval field beach

The shingle beach at Oval Field runs into one of Sussex's quieter nature reserves, a proper working landscape rather than a polished visitor attraction. You're looking at reed beds, shallow lagoons and the kind of mudflats that birdwatchers lose their minds over - waders, terns, the lot. The beach itself is grey shingle, functional rather than fancy, with good views across to the Isle of Wight on a clear day.

It's the kind of place you either love immediately or wonder why you've bothered. Serious twitchers will camp here for hours with binoculars. Families wanting a paddle and a ice cream might find it a bit underwhelming - there's no facilities, no beach huts, nothing except the landscape. But that's precisely why it works. The silence is genuine.

The walk in takes about twenty minutes from the nearest parking, and the reserve itself is accessible year-round, free of charge. Spring and autumn are best for bird numbers, though winter brings interesting migrants. Allow two hours if you're serious about birding, an hour if you're just stretching your legs.

From the nearby holiday parks - West Sands is closest at just over a mile, while Haven Church Farm and the excellent Stubcroft Farm Campsite give you more varied accommodation - Oval Field works well as part of a broader exploration of the Sussex coast. It's twenty minutes from Chichester, so you can combine it with the cathedral or the Goodwood estate without faffing about.