Bushy Ruff Country Park

The chalk grasslands at Bushy Ruff roll out unexpectedly near Dover, a proper patchwork of downland where you actually feel you've left the coast behind. This isn't woodland - it's open, wind-swept terrain that shifts colour with the seasons, thick with wildflowers come spring and summer. The reserve sits inland enough to escape the tourist crush but close enough that you're only minutes from the seafront if you fancy a change of scene.

It's decent walking territory. Paths wind through the grassland, and the views across the Kentish countryside are straightforward and honest - no dramatic vistas, but the kind of landscape that rewards a proper look. Naturalists and botany types will get the most from it, particularly if you time your visit for May or June when the orchids and cowslips are out. Families with young children might find it a bit open and exposed on windy days, though older kids who like rambling will be fine here.

The reserve works well as a half-day addon if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Greenhill Glamping is just over two miles away, or if you're at Parkdean Resorts St Margaret's Bay, it's a short drive inland. The contrast between the seaside and these quiet grasslands is worth experiencing. Allow two to three hours for a leisurely walk, longer if you're photographing or studying the flora. You'll need sturdy shoes and won't mind the mud after rain. It won't blow your mind, but it's exactly what it should be - a slice of downland ecology without pretence.