The Hermitage

You're standing in front of what looks like a Victorian folly wedged into the sandstone cliffs near Hastings, but The Hermitage is actually something far older and considerably weirder. This cave dwelling, carved into the rock face, dates back centuries and was once home to a genuine hermit - the sort of solitary religious figure who treated Sussex cliffs as their monastery. What you get now is a modest but genuinely atmospheric space, still atmospheric despite the years of weathering and tourist footfall.

The cave itself isn't vast or particularly elaborate, which is precisely why it works. There's something properly moving about standing in a room that someone chose to live in, deliberately cutting themselves off from the world. The entrance is straightforward to find, though the path down involves a bit of scrambling and the ground's often damp. It's the kind of place that takes ten minutes to look round properly but stays with you longer than that.

Historians and anyone interested in medieval life will get the most from it. Kids might find it cool in a Gothic sort of way, though younger ones could get restless quickly - there's not a huge amount to do once you're inside. It's free to visit, which is just as well given the limited facilities.

If you're staying at Coghurst Hall or Beaulieu Farm nearby, this works as a decent half-hour detour during a wider walk along the clifftops. The views back towards Hastings are worth lingering over, and the coastal path stretches both ways if you want to make a proper morning of it. Frankly, though, it's the kind of place you visit because it's there, not because it'll transform your holiday.