Granny's Belt

About five miles inland from Brighton, Granny's Belt is a proper woodland walk through dense Sussex forest - the sort of place where you actually feel like you've escaped the seaside crowds. The path winds through mature beech and oak, with enough shade that even on warm days it's genuinely cool underfoot. It's not a dramatic walk or a showstopper viewpoint, but it's exactly the kind of local favourite that rewards a bit of effort.

The forest floor is soft and forgiving, making it ideal for families with younger kids who tire easily on hard tracks. You'll want a good hour minimum, longer if you stop to actually breathe and look around. There's something meditative about it - no sudden surprises, just trees doing what trees do best. History buffs might find the woodland management interesting (these aren't wild woods), but you're not coming here for heritage sites or dramatic views.

Timing matters. Go early on a weekday and you'll have it to yourself. Weekends can bring local dog walkers and the usual forest traffic. It works brilliantly as a morning outing before heading back to your holiday park - Foot of the Downs is only six miles away, as is Downsview Park. Both would pair well with a Granny's Belt walk before breakfast or as an afternoon leg-stretch when park life gets a bit static.

Free to access, no facilities to speak of. Proper shoes recommended - it's muddy after rain.