The Dell

The Dell is a proper woodland walk just outside Newhaven, the sort of place locals know about but visitors often miss. You get a stream running through it, some decent tree cover, and paths that wind down into a small valley - hence the name. It's free to access and takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how slowly you mooch about.

The main appeal is straightforward: if you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Three Ponds, Brighton Caravan Club, or Chalky Downs - and you want to get the kids or the dog out for a leg-stretch without heading miles, this does the job. It's not dramatic or particularly long, so don't expect a serious hike. What you get instead is a bit of green space with some woodland atmosphere, which frankly beats another hour at the campsite bar.

It works best in dry weather. After rain the paths can get muddy and the stream proper swollen, which limits where you can actually go. Spring and early summer are your best bets - the undergrowth is lush but not yet choking the paths completely.

For families with younger kids, an hour here tires them out nicely. Walkers looking for a serious outing will find it rather too tame. Bring decent boots, stick to the main paths, and don't expect facilities - no café, no toilets. It's the bare bones stuff, which some people will find refreshing and others will find a bit pointless. Fair assessment: solid local spot, not worth a special trip from Brighton, but genuinely worth the 20-minute detour if you're already camping nearby.