Park Woods

The woodland paths through Park Woods are quiet enough that you'll actually hear the birds. Located just outside Hailsham in Sussex, this nature reserve offers proper woodland walking without the crowds you'd get at bigger attractions. The trees are dense in places, opening up suddenly into clearings where you might spot wildlife if you're lucky and patient.

It's the sort of place where a couple of hours disappears easily. Families with younger kids will find the flat sections manageable, though it's not a pushchair-friendly spot overall. Birdwatchers and anyone who just wants to breathe fresh air away from the main roads will rate it. The woodland canopy works brilliantly in summer when you want shade.

If you're staying at Fontmills Farm Campsite just over a mile away, or one of the other sites dotted around the area - Warren Wood Country Park and Horam Manor are both within four miles - Park Woods makes an ideal morning or afternoon escape. It's the kind of place you visit to fill a few hours between other plans rather than as your main event, but that's exactly what makes it useful for a park holiday.

No entrance fee, no visitor centre, no café - just woodland as it is. Go on a weekday if possible. Weekends can get busier with dog walkers. The paths are reasonably clear year-round, though proper boots are advisable after rain.