Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

The chalk downs south of Chichester hide one of England's finest yew forests, and Kingley Vale is where to find it. You're walking through ancient woodland that's been here for centuries, gnarled trees twisted into shapes that look almost prehistoric. The reserve sprawls across 400 acres, so there's proper room to roam without bumping into crowds.

It's essentially a network of walking trails through varied terrain - beech woodland, open downland, dense yew thickets. The yews are the main event; they're gnarled and dark and genuinely atmospheric. Families with reasonable fitness levels will manage the main paths, though some sections involve decent climbs. Walkers and nature types will be in their element here, especially in spring when wildflowers explode across the grassland. Birdwatchers come for the buzzards and woodpeckers.

Allow 90 minutes to two hours for a proper walk. Admission is free and unrestricted. There's a car park near the entrance, and it's a straightforward drive from Chichester town centre. If you're staying at Concierge Camping just 1.7 miles away, you've got an easy morning outing. Bow Hill Farm caravan site to the west is equally convenient. The reserve is best visited outside school holidays if you want solitude, though early mornings always work.

It's not dramatic or showy. But if you like your countryside unmanicured and your walking trails honest, Kingley Vale delivers. No visitor centre, no café, no fuss. Just good English woodland doing what it's done for centuries.