Scotchbank Wood

A proper forest walk through Sussex woodland, Scotchbank Wood sits just outside Haywards Heath and delivers exactly what you'd want from a local nature spot - decent paths, decent trees, no faffing about. It's the sort of place you can knock out in an hour or stretch to a leisurely two hours if you're the type who stops to look at things.

The woodland is mixed, which means you get proper shade and enough variation to keep walks interesting. Dog walkers absolutely love it here, and rightly so - the paths are well-used enough to be clear but not so tramped they've turned into mud channels. On a decent day, it's genuinely pleasant; in winter when the deciduous trees are bare, it's less dramatic but still worth the trip if you're staying nearby.

It's a free woodland walk with no visitor facilities to speak of, so come prepared. There's no visitor centre, no café, no toilet block - it's just you and the trees. That's either brilliant or disappointing depending on your view. Kids will enjoy it for a while, especially if they're the exploring type, but don't expect drama or viewpoints that'll make them talk about it for weeks.

If you're basing yourself at Raylands Country Park, which is just five miles away, Scotchbank Wood makes a straightforward morning or afternoon excursion. It's the sort of wood that works best when it's part of something larger - a broader day out rather than a destination in itself.