Heathfield

Woodland paths snake through centuries-old trees in every direction here, creating a proper walker's paradise. Heathfield sits comfortably in the rolling High Weald, surrounded by more forests than you can shake a walking stick at - from the sprawling Heathfield Park to the intimate Church Wood and Swansbrook Wood. It's that kind of place where you can lose yourself for hours without meeting another soul.

The town itself keeps things refreshingly low-key. St Bartholomew's Church anchors the old centre, while the annual Heathfield & Waldron Art Show draws creative types from across East Sussex. Hidden Spring Vineyard offers a rather civilised way to spend an afternoon, especially after tramping through Markly Wood or St Dunstan's Wood all morning.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A265 runs straight through town, connecting you to Tunbridge Wells in one direction and the coast at Eastbourne in the other. That positioning makes it brilliant for exploring the wider High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're minutes from proper countryside walks through Toll Wood or Beckington Wood, yet close enough to nip into Brighton for the day or explore the 1066 battlefields near Hastings. The rural campsites scattered around places like Warren Wood Country Park and The Secret Campsite give you that proper away-from-it-all feeling without being miles from civilization.