Eastland Wood

Head into Eastland Wood and you'll find yourself under a proper canopy of trees, just a short drive from Battle. It's the kind of place that feels properly removed from things even though civilisation isn't far away. The woodland walk takes you through mixed forest - ancient oaks, conifers, the lot - with paths that wind deeper in depending on how far you fancy going. On a decent day the dappled light filtering through is lovely; on a grey one it's atmospheric in that slightly eerie way only English woods manage.

This is walker territory, genuinely. Families with young kids might manage a shorter circuit, but if you've got energetic types aged eight and up, they'll enjoy the proper exploring aspect. It's not a manicured country estate walk - there are roots to navigate and muddy patches after rain. Bring proper footwear and don't expect facilities. The beauty of it is exactly that: no car parks the size of football pitches, no gift shops, just woodland.

Given its proximity to Battle, Eastland Wood works well as a morning or afternoon slot during a wider Sussex trip. It slots in nicely alongside visits to Battle Abbey or the town itself. If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Beech Estate is barely two miles away - you could easily pop in for an hour's ramble without much planning. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper walk of two to three hours if you've got the legs for it, though a quick thirty-minute circuit is entirely possible if time's tight. Free and unfussy - exactly what a local wood should be.