Sutton Down

You'll find Sutton Down rising steeply above the Petworth area, and it's the sort of walk that leaves you properly satisfied when you reach the top. The views across the South Downs are genuinely excellent - on a clear day you can see for miles across the rolling farmland and woodland that makes this corner of Sussex special. The walk itself takes about an hour if you're reasonably fit, and it's steep enough to work for it but not so brutal that you're cursing the whole way up.

The down works brilliantly for families who can manage a decent walk, or for anyone just wanting a proper leg-stretcher without needing crampons and a rope. History buffs will appreciate that you're walking on ancient turf here - the South Downs have been grazed and farmed for centuries. Allow two to three hours if you want to take your time and actually stop at the top rather than just bagging the summit.

It's free to access, naturally, and there's no visitor centre or facilities up there, so bring water. The nearest reasonable car park is around Petworth itself. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Woodfire at Westerlands is only a few miles away - this makes an ideal morning expedition before heading back for lunch. Graffham Camping site is equally close by. Worth the detour if you're already in the area, though it's not the kind of destination that warrants a trip on its own.