Shipdens Holt

Shipdens Holt is a proper woodland walk just outside Pulborough in Sussex, the sort of place that rewards you for getting off the main path. You're walking through mixed deciduous forest here - oak, beech, the occasional surprise - and the canopy does what it's supposed to do on a hot day. There's genuinely good woodland floor management, which means you can actually see what you're walking through instead of fighting through brambles for half an hour.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination in itself - you're not going to spend the day here - but it's a cracking spot for an hour or so if you're camping nearby at Fox Wood or Onslow Caravan Park. Families with younger children might find it a bit too straightforward; there's no dramatic views or obvious focal point to aim for. But if you've got teenagers who'll actually walk without complaining, or you're just after a decent leg-stretch in green space, it ticks the box.

The forest feels properly quiet, which is rare for Sussex. Dog walkers clearly love it - you'll see evidence of that - and in spring the woodland flowers are worth the visit. Bring proper footwear; it gets muddy after rain and the ground's uneven in places.

It works as a break between caravan days if you're based in the area, though it's not worth a special trip on its own. Go early if you can, when the light's good through the trees.