Preston Rock Gardens.

The South Downs drop away sharply here, and you're suddenly looking out across Sussex with the sea somewhere beyond the haze. Preston Rock Gardens sits on the escarpment just north of Brighton, a nature reserve that feels properly wild despite being minutes from the city. It's chalk grassland dotted with scrub and rocky outcrops - the sort of place where you'll spot chalk-loving plants and butterflies if you visit in summer, and where winter walkers get uninterrupted views across the weald.

This isn't a manicured garden. There are no paths marked out, no visitor centre, no cafe. You pick your way across rough grass and between stunted hawthorn, following whatever route takes your fancy. The rock formations - chalky exposures that give the place its name - aren't dramatic, but they add interest to what could otherwise feel like any other downland walk.

History types will appreciate that you're standing on the edge of one of England's oldest inhabited landscapes. For families with older kids who can handle scrambling about, it's proper fun. Younger children might lose interest quickly, though.

The reserve works brilliantly as part of a South Downs walking holiday. From Foot of the Downs or Blackberry Wood caravan park, you're within striking distance for a morning ramble before heading down to Brighton itself. Allow a couple of hours for a decent wander. Summer is best for wildlife; spring brings wildflowers. There's no charge for access, and no facilities, so bring water.