Wadhurst

Steam trains still puff through this slice of the High Weald, just as they did when wealthy Victorians built their grand houses among the oak woods and rolling hills. Wadhurst sits pretty in the heart of East Sussex's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where ancient woodlands meet working farmland and the pace slows right down.

The town centre feels properly old England - independent shops line the high street, and the 13th-century church overlooks it all from its hilltop perch. But it's the surrounding countryside that really draws people here. Bewl Water, just a few miles south, is the largest stretch of open water in the southeast. Grebe Corner offers cracking views across the reservoir, while the walking trails wind through Great Sandhurst Wood and Kilndown Wood.

Finchcocks Music Museum deserves a proper visit if you're into period instruments - the Georgian mansion houses one of Europe's finest collections of historical keyboards. The surrounding forests like Timberlog Wood and East Wood are brilliant for walks, especially in autumn when the beech trees turn golden.

Getting here is straightforward enough. Frant station connects you to London Bridge in just over an hour, though having a car opens up the best of the High Weald's scattered attractions. The nearest big town is Royal Tunbridge Wells, about 15 minutes' drive north.

Staying at one of the local camping spots or glamping sites makes perfect sense. You're right in the thick of some of England's most unspoilt countryside, with Bewl Water on your doorstep for sailing, fishing, or just watching the wildlife. The network of ancient woods means there's always somewhere new to explore on foot.