Saltdean Cliffs, Brighton & Hove

The chalk cliffs at Saltdean rise straight up from the shingle beach like somebody's drawn a white line across the Sussex coast. They're proper dramatic - 90 metres of pure vertical geology, layered and striped where different chalk formations have been exposed over millennia. You can walk along the promenade with them as your backdrop, or scramble down to the beach itself if the tide's out and you fancy a closer look at the rock face.

It's a straightforward spot, really. No visitor centre, no café, no entrance fee - just cliffs, sea, and the sound of waves. Walkers love it because there's a decent stretch of coastal path either side of Saltdean, and the light's often excellent for photographs, especially in late afternoon. Families with younger kids might find it a bit exposed and windswept on rough days, but older children who like geology or rockpooling will be engaged. Allow an hour if you're combining it with a beach walk, longer if you're the type to sit and sketch or simply stare.

Don't expect a destination in itself - it works best as part of a wider Brighton seafront wander. Saltdean's on the eastern edge of the city, so it's quieter than the central pebbles and arcades. If you're based at Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Chalky Downs just a few miles inland, it's an easy cycle or short drive down for a morning cliff walk before heading back for lunch.