Seven Sisters Country Park

The cliffs here are the real draw - white chalk faces that drop dramatically to a shingle beach, stretching across seven valleys that give the place its name. You're looking at proper downland terrain, the kind that makes you understand why people fought over this corner of Sussex for centuries.

Walk the clifftop trail and the whole thing unfolds. The Seven Sisters themselves - each valley creates a distinct ridge - appear in sequence as you move east toward Birling Gap. It's not a gentle stroll. The path undulates seriously, and the wind can be bracing, but that's rather the point. Walkers absolutely love it here, and rightly so. The views stretch for miles on clear days, all the way across the Channel on a proper sunny afternoon.

Families with older kids do well. Younger ones might struggle with the distance and the terrain - it's not wheelchair-friendly and there's no gentle amble option. Allow two to three hours minimum for a decent walk; more if you're stopping to photograph everything.

It's free to access, open dawn to dusk, and there's parking at Cuckmere Haven at the western end. The nearest town is Hailsham, about fifteen minutes inland. If you're staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park nearby, this makes a proper morning out - pack a windproof, wear decent boots, and go early before the car park fills up. Avoid windy days unless you enjoy being buffeted sideways.