Bramble Grove

A woodland walk through Sussex that feels properly remote despite being just outside Lewes. Bramble Grove is exactly what the name suggests - dense forest with plenty of undergrowth, narrow trails that wind through the trees, and that particular damp smell you only get in English woodland after rain. There's no visitor centre or facilities, so come prepared.

This works best for walkers who actually want to walk rather than just potter about taking photos. The paths can be muddy and overgrown depending on the season, which some will find brilliant and others will find annoying. Kids will either love the adventurous scrambling through bracken or get bored within half an hour - depends on the child, really. History types won't find much to grip them here; it's nature rather than narrative.

Stay nearby and you've got a solid cluster of camping options within three miles - Golden Cross Holiday Park and Warren Wood Country Park are both close by, with Hale Farm Campsite and Fontmills Farm adding more choice if the first two are full. It's the sort of place that works well as part of a longer day combining woodland walks with a trip into Lewes itself, which has actual things to see in town.

Allow a couple of hours for a decent wander rather than expecting to spend all day. Spring and early autumn tend to be best - summer can feel a bit airless and damp, winter muddy to the point of slipping. No charge that we can find, and no set opening times, so the advantage of turning up whenever suits you.