St Leonards Forest

St Leonards Forest spreads across 2,400 acres of mixed woodland just south of Haywards Heath, and it's a proper place to lose a few hours if you're camping nearby. The forest is open to the public for walking, though there's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of - you just turn up and find your way in. Most people stick to the main paths that wind through conifers and broadleaf trees, and the walking is gentle enough for families with young kids, though a few sections get boggy after rain. The whole area has a quiet, undisturbed feel - you won't find crowds here like you might at a Surrey beauty spot. If you're into woodland birding or just want somewhere to stretch your legs between camp and Haywards Heath, it works well. Allow two to three hours for a solid circular walk, or grab an hour if you're just poking about. Free to enter and no parking charges that I could find. The nearby campsites - Sunset Tree Camping and Raylands Country Park are closest at under four miles - make this a convenient base for exploring the local woods without needing to drive far. It's not dramatic or showy, but it's the kind of place that locals value for its space and lack of fuss. Worth a morning if the weather's decent.