Seven Sisters Cliffs

The cliffs rear up from the beach like a giant's staircase - pure white chalk faces that seem to glow on overcast days. Seven Sisters, near Newhaven, is the sort of place that stops you mid-stride because the scale of it catches you off guard, even if you've seen the photos.

You're looking at a stretch of seven peaks running for about four miles along the East Sussex coast. The highest point hits around 160 metres, and the walking path that runs along the top is genuinely special - firm underfoot, dramatic drops on one side, open countryside rolling away inland on the other. It's not a casual stroll, though. The route dips steeply between each "sister" and climbs back out again, so allow three to four hours if you want to do the full walk rather than just potter about at one end.

Most people park at Exceat and head west along the clifftop path. The actual walk itself is completely free, though you'll likely spend a fiver on coffee at the visitor centre if you go that route. Go on a clear day or a moody grey one - honestly, both work. Sunny afternoons get rammed with families, which rather ruins the contemplative quality of the place.

It's about six miles from Three Ponds Holiday Park, making it an easy day trip from a Sussex coast base. Bring proper walking boots - the chalk can be slippy when damp - and stick to the designated paths. The erosion here is real and noticeable year on year.