Graffham Common Nature Reserve, Sussex Wildlife Trust

The chalk grassland here rolls out from the car park in a way that makes you forget you're still in Sussex. Graffham Common is a proper working nature reserve run by Sussex Wildlife Trust - not a manicured park, but the real thing. You get open downland dotted with wildflowers (best in late spring and summer), a network of footpaths that'll take you anywhere from twenty minutes to a couple of hours depending on your mood, and genuinely good birdwatching if you know what you're looking for. The views stretch across the South Downs towards Petworth, and on a clear day it's one of those spots where you remember why the Weald actually matters.

It's free to visit, which helps - no barrier to entry for a half-decent walk. The paths are well-marked but can get muddy in winter, so boots make sense. Families with younger kids will manage the lower loops fine; serious walkers will appreciate the longer circuits through the reserve. You won't find a café or loos, so come prepared. An hour is realistic for a casual mooch, but two hours if you're the type to stop and actually look at things.

If you're staying at Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, this is practically your back garden. Woodfire at Westerlands and Wakestone & Wild Glamping give you the same easy access without the campsite facilities. It works well as part of a broader South Downs circuit - plenty of other reserves and walks within striking distance of Petworth.