Swanbourne Lake

The water here is surprisingly calm, even on breezy days - Swanbourne Lake sits just outside Arundel and feels properly removed from the town's medieval bustle. It's a freshwater lake, the sort of place where you'll see local anglers nursing a thermos and the occasional heron working the shallows with genuine patience.

Walkers get the most from it. The perimeter path is straightforward, taking roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on how often you stop, and it's the kind of circuit that feels restorative rather than strenuous - good for families with younger kids or anyone needing a leg-stretch after a drive. The water itself is the main event; don't expect dramatic views or much beyond reeds and woodland, but that's rather the point. It's quiet in a way that counts.

Free to visit and accessible year-round, though spring and early autumn are when it feels least windswept. Several caravan parks sit within three miles - Brookside, Littlehampton, and Camp and Touring at Old Farm Slindon are your closest options - making it an easy morning outing if you're based in the area for a week. Pair it with Arundel itself if you want culture and castle views; the lake works best as a breather between more substantial attractions rather than a destination in its own right. Worth the detour if you're in Sussex and fancy something low-key, but don't overcommit time to it.