Stocks Wood

The woodland here feels proper Sussex - dense enough to lose the afternoon in, open enough that you're never more than twenty minutes from daylight. Stocks Wood sits close enough to Winchelsea to make it a natural add-on if you're based at one of the local holiday parks, yet far enough removed that you won't bump into the seaside crowds.

It's straightforward forest walking. Paths wind through beech and oak, the ground soft with last season's leaves, and on a quiet day you might hear nothing but your own footsteps and whatever birds are about. There's no dramatic viewpoint or waterfall - don't come expecting that. What you get instead is space to move without thinking too hard about it.

For families with young walkers, allow an hour or so for a proper poke around without rushing. Older kids who've graduated from "are we there yet" territory will appreciate having room to actually explore. This isn't a destination that'll hold your attention for an entire day if you're just sitting on a bench, but as part of a wider Sussex itinerary - say, combining it with Rye Harbour Holiday Park's nature reserve access or a morning walk before heading to Winchelsea itself - it pulls its weight.

Season matters. Spring's muddy but green. Autumn's the real draw, when the wood sorts itself out into golds and russets. Summer can feel a touch airless under full canopy, and winter's fine if you don't mind damp.