Decoy Wood

The woodland around Decoy Wood, just outside Pevensey, is proper Sussex - dark, dense, and surprisingly atmospheric given how close it is to the coast. It's the kind of place where you can lose an hour wandering between the trees without seeing another soul, which is either brilliant or slightly unnerving depending on your mood.

What you're getting here is a straightforward woodland walk through mixed forest. There are paths that wind through the trees, and if you time it right in spring or autumn the light filtering through makes it worth the trek. It's not dramatically different from dozens of other Sussex woods, but that's rather the point - this is what proper countryside looks like around here, not some tarted-up attraction with gift shops.

Walkers will find it worth half an hour to an hour depending on how far you fancy going. Families with young kids might struggle if there's been heavy rain - the paths can get properly boggy. History types will appreciate that you're walking land that's been wooded for centuries, though there's not much interpretation on site.

If you're staying at Warren Wood Country Park or any of the other holiday parks clustered around Pevensey Bay, Decoy Wood makes a decent morning walk to break up caravan life. Don't expect dramatic views or marked trails with facilities. Bring decent boots, check the weather, and go if you like the idea of a quiet woodland stomp. Skip it if you're after something with more structure or payoff.