Annington Hill

The walk up Annington Hill rewards you with proper Sussex Downs views - nothing dramatic, but on a clear day you can see right across the weald towards the coast. It's a straightforward climb from Lancing, taking the best part of an hour if you're not rushed, and the top gives you that satisfying sense of having earned the vista.

What makes it worth the trip is the walking itself rather than any single spectacle at the summit. The footpath takes you through genuine downland - chalk grassland with decent wildflower displays in spring and early summer. Families with reasonably mobile kids will manage it fine; the gradient's steady rather than punishing. Walkers doing a longer circuit through the Downs will find it a useful waypoint rather than a destination in itself.

There's nothing to pay, no facilities at the top, so bring water and check the weather before heading out. The best time is late morning when the light's good and you've got the afternoon stretching ahead for a longer explore of the area. Base yourself at one of the nearby caravan parks - The Barn, Beach Park or Eastern Sands are all within three miles - and you can knock this off as a half-day walk before heading to Lancing for lunch.

Honestly, if you're after dramatic Sussex peaks, you'll find better elsewhere. But if you want a proper country walk that's accessible without being trivial, Annington Hill does the job. It's the kind of place locals use regularly, which tells you something about its everyday appeal.