Lancing Ring

The walk up to Lancing Ring takes about forty minutes from the car park, and it's one of those proper Sussex Downs walks that rewards you without being punishing. You're climbing an Iron Age hill fort, which means the views across the weald are genuinely excellent - on a clear day you can see right across to the coast near Lancing itself. The earthworks are still visible, which is satisfying for history types, though the fort's been here since around 700 BC and there's not much standing structure to look at. What you're really doing is walking through chalk grassland with proper views, and that's exactly what the South Downs are for.

Kids will manage it fine if they're used to countryside walks, but there's not a great deal to do once you arrive - no café, no visitor centre, no interpretation boards. You stand about, admire the outlook, and then you walk back down. Families with younger children might find it a bit anticlimactic after the effort. The real appeal is for proper walkers who want a decent Sussex Downs outing without trekking all the way to Ditchling Beacon.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Lancing - The Barn or Beach Park are closest - it's a solid afternoon activity to break up the seaside stay. The walk itself is free, obviously. Timing-wise, allow two to three hours including the views and a rest at the top. Spring and early summer are best when the chalk grassland flowers up.