Greenlanes dog park

Your dog will lose its mind the moment you walk through the gates at Greenlanes. It's a proper off-lead space just outside Lewes where dogs actually get to be dogs - running, splashing through water if they fancy it, and socialising without the usual six-foot lead anxiety. The park itself is open grassland with trees scattered about, nothing fancy in terms of facilities, but that's rather the point.

Dogs of all shapes benefit here. Nervous ones can work up their confidence around others in a contained space. High-energy spaniels and terriers find genuine relief. You'll spend a good hour here easily, watching your mutt charge around while you chat with other owners who are invariably dog-obsessed and actually decent company.

It's free, which helps. Facilities appear minimal - I'd bring water and bags obviously - but the space does what it promises. Bring treats to remind your dog you exist when they're too busy investigating every inch of ground.

If you're based at Golden Cross Holiday Park or Hale Farm Campsite nearby, this solves the dog-exercise problem brilliantly. Gives you an excuse to get out of the caravan midday when everyone's a bit fractious. Lewes itself is close enough for a proper walk and lunch afterwards, so you can structure a whole morning around it. Not a destination in itself, but absolutely essential if you're holidaying with a dog in Sussex.