Gilly Wood

The woodland around Battle is thick and proper atmospheric - Gilly Wood sits just outside town and makes for a solid afternoon if you're exploring this corner of Sussex. It's genuine mixed forest, the sort where you'll find yourself on narrow paths with beech and oak towering overhead, occasional glimpses of lighter woodland where the canopy breaks. The paths wind through without much drama - no dramatic vistas or sudden clearings - but that's rather the point. You get a real sense of how the Weald actually feels when you're not gawping at something heritage-branded.

Walkers will find it useful. There's enough path to keep you occupied for 90 minutes without feeling like you're going in circles, and the ground is generally decent underfoot unless it's been hammering with rain. It's not a destination you'd drive 40 minutes out of your way for, but if you're staying at Winchelsea Sands Holiday Park or based in Battle itself, it's the sort of place that breaks up a day between larger attractions. Kids will manage fine if they're at the "actually walks without complaining" age, though there's no playground nonsense or formal features to hold their attention.

The nearest town is Battle itself - proper historic spot with the abbey and the town centre just minutes away by car - so you might string this together with that rather than making it a standalone trip. Check conditions after rain because the paths can get quite boggy. No obvious visitor facilities, so bring what you need.