Iford Hill

Iford Hill doesn't make you work too hard for its reward, which is precisely why it's worth the trip from Brighton. This chalk downland rises sharply enough to feel like a proper climb - the kind that leaves you slightly breathless - yet you can be up and down in under two hours if you're not lingering. The views across the Sussex weald are the real draw here, rolling green ridges stretching away toward the South Downs. On a clear day, you'll clock the landscape that's shaped this corner of England for centuries.

Walkers will find it the most straightforward outing of the bunch. Families with kids aged ten and up can manage it without complaint, though younger legs might flag on the ascent. The chalk itself is quite slippery when wet, so good boots matter. There's no café or facilities at the summit - bring water and snacks.

What makes it genuinely useful is how it slots into a Sussex parks trip. You're barely forty minutes' drive from Chalky Downs Campsite or the Brighton Caravan Club base, so it's an easy half-day walk without the commitment of a full day out. The ground underfoot changes character as you gain height - scrubby woodland gives way to open downland with proper horizons. It won't set your heart racing or teach you much history, but it'll blow away a seaside holiday fog and remind you why the South Downs matter. Go early to avoid the afternoon crowds, and go in dry conditions.