Pevensey

Two castles guard the entrance to this small East Sussex town - one Norman, one Roman. Pevensey sits where William the Conqueror first set foot on English soil in 1066, and you can still walk the ancient walls of both fortifications today.

The medieval castle ruins rise dramatically from the marshland, while the older Roman fort of Anderitum forms an impressive outer ring. It's properly atmospheric stuff, especially on misty autumn mornings. The village itself is tiny - just a few streets clustered around the castle entrance - but it punches well above its weight historically.

Just a mile south lies Pevensey Bay with its long pebble beach stretching towards Bexhill. The coast here is quieter than Brighton but still accessible, with decent swimming when the tide's in. Cooden Beach Golf Club offers a challenging links course if you fancy a round with sea views.

Walking opportunities abound in the surrounding countryside. Wet Wood and Spring Shaw provide shaded forest paths, while Cooden Wood offers glimpses of the sea through the trees. The whole area sits within easy reach of both Eastbourne (15 minutes) and Hastings (20 minutes) by car.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this slice of the 1066 Country. You're close enough to the coast for beach days but far enough inland to enjoy the rolling South Downs. The train stations at Normans Bay and Cooden Beach provide direct links to London Victoria - handy if you fancy a day trip to the capital. Plus, you'll avoid the hefty accommodation prices of the main seaside resorts while having easy access to both Hastings' Old Town and Eastbourne's Victorian seafront.