Roffey Park

A proper Sussex woodland tucked just outside Horsham that doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't - it's a straightforward nature reserve where you can actually walk without bumping into coachloads of tourists. The reserve sits across some decent acreage of mixed woodland and open grassland, the kind of place where you might spot woodpeckers if you're patient, or at least enjoy the relative quiet while kids burn off energy on the trails.

It works best for people who like their green spaces unadorned. No visitor centre, no café, no gift shop - just the woods and whatever wildlife decides to show itself that day. Walkers will find it satisfying for an hour or two, families with younger children can manage the easier paths without too much fuss, and anyone after a proper birdwatching spot should bring binoculars and patience.

What makes it useful for a Sussex park holiday is the location - you're close enough to Horsham for supplies, and it slots neatly between Sands Farm Weekend Camping and Raylands Country Park if you're touring the area. Neither park is far, so you could easily combine it with a proper base elsewhere. Go early morning if you want the best chance of spotting anything, or late afternoon when the light softens through the trees. There's genuine woodland air here, and that's worth something.