Hawkins Pond

A proper little water feature just outside Haywards Heath, Hawkins Pond is the sort of place locals know about but visitors tend to miss. It's a modest lake - don't expect anything dramatic - but on a decent day it offers a peaceful spot for a walk and a bit of birdwatching if you're into that sort of thing.

The water itself is clear enough, fringed with trees that give decent shelter whatever the weather throws at you. You can walk the perimeter easily enough, and it's the kind of place where you might spot a heron or maybe some ducks if you're lucky. Nothing flashy, just quiet countryside doing its thing.

It works best if you're already camping nearby - Sunset Tree Camping and Raylands Country Park are both within a few miles - and you're looking for a gentle morning stroll rather than a major day out. Families with young kids will manage the walk without drama, though there's not much here to keep them occupied for hours on end. Walkers and birders will appreciate the calm; it's a proper refuge from the busier Sussex attractions.

Free to visit as far as we can tell, though facilities are minimal. Allow an hour if you're doing the circuit at leisure. Best visited early morning when the place is quietest and you've got half a chance of seeing wildlife. It's not going to set your world alight, but for a pocket-sized natural pause between camping and wherever else you're headed, it does the job.