Redgrove Wood

You'll find yourself walking among tall Scots pines and Douglas firs the moment you step into Redgrove Wood, just inland from Bexhill-on-Sea. It's a proper working forest, which means the paths are well maintained and you'll spot signs of active woodland management - felled trees, younger growth pushing through. The canopy is dense enough to offer real shelter on wet days, though the ground can get boggy in places, so decent boots matter.

This is squarely walker territory. The trails wind through without any fuss - no playgrounds, no visitor centre, just you and the trees. Families with older kids who actually enjoy a forest walk will get hours out of it. Younger children might lose interest after forty minutes unless they're the type to hunt for woodland creatures and fallen branches. The paths are easy enough for most fitness levels, though there's nothing dramatic in terms of views or elevation.

What makes Redgrove worth a detour is how quiet it remains, even on weekends. You're only a handful of miles from Normans Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site, so it works perfectly as a morning or afternoon escape from a park-based holiday. The woodland feels genuinely peaceful - that rare thing these days - and the mix of mature and regenerating forest gives you something to actually look at rather than just trudge through.

No facilities that I could find, so bring water and a packed lunch if you're staying more than an hour. Free to access, mercifully.