Here are the best walks you can do around Sussex - as chosen by you

With lockdown restrictions starting to ease in March we have rounded up some of the fantastic walks you can do around Sussex and slightly further afield.
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We have also included some great tips and places to go to find out more about walks around Sussex submitted by our readers.

One reader suggested buying “A Sussex Wayfarers Nature Notes” by David Johnston ( you can order it at Waterstones) while another suggested the mobile app Alltrails.

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You can also follow a number of walkers on Facebook, such as The Bald Explorer who also has a website, while Fancy Free Walks is another great site that has a host of walks you can do, as is Long Man's Walking Guide to Sussex.

South downs Way, courtesy of the South Downs National Park AuthoritySouth downs Way, courtesy of the South Downs National Park Authority
South downs Way, courtesy of the South Downs National Park Authority

For walks around East Sussex check out the Facebook page 1-2-3 Walks East Sussex, which is run by TCV, a national conservation charity that brings together people and green spaces. It is funded by Mind as part of a package of Coronavirus Mental Health Response projects.

If you have a disability or have young children in a pushchair there are still many walks you can go on. For West Sussex, check out the Easy Countryside Walks article which has a list of 14 accessible walks around the county.

WALKS:

Please note that at the moment advice is to stay as local as possible so you will only be able to cover the walks or sections of trails in your area. Hopefully once lockdown is lifted you will be able to go on walks elsewhere in the county. We have included links to the walks where possible.

The South DownsThe South Downs
The South Downs
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* The South Downs Way stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne. and you can find many different trail walks and itineraries here.

* The High Weald Landscape Trail, is a 90 mile route that stretches between Horsham and Rye.

* The Royal Military Canal Path is a canal running for 28 miles between Pett Level, Rother, to Seabrook near Folkestone, following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh,

* Saxon Shore Way stretches 163 miles between Hastings to Gravesend, Kent and follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1,500 years ago.

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* The Vanguard Way is 66 miles (107 km) long and starts on the southern outskirts of Greater London and passes through the counties of Surrey, Kent and East Sussex, finishing in Newhaven.

* The Downs Link is a 37 mile (59km) shared route linking the North Downs Way with the South Downs Way and follows two disused railway lines, crossing the Surrey Hills, the Low Weald, the South Downs and the Coastal Plain. A new section of the Downs Link is now open around Christ’s Hospital.

Walks in Hastings and Rother

* Summerfields Wood Nature Reserve, Horntye Park is an area of semi-natural woodland and freshwater ponds.

* St Helen's Wood

* Alexandra Park covers 109 acres.

* Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve is the most prestigious area of biodiversity management in the borough.

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* Combe Valley Countryside Park covers approximately 2.3 square miles (about 1480 acres) and has two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, with a remarkable amount of wildlife to be treasured.

* Church Wood Nature Reserve

* Battle Great Woods has tracks which are wide and well managed and are easy to walk.

* Pett Valley to Winchelsea is a lovely walk that takes about 75 minutes.

* In the High Weald Area of Outstanding National Beauty, the Tenterden, Kent, to Bodiam walk will take just over three hours.

* Bodiam Castle to St Nicholas Church, Sandhurst

Walks around Eastbourne and the surrounding area

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*Friston Forest, between Lulington Heath National Nature Reserve and Seven Sisters Country Park, is the largest area of recently established forest in South East England.

* The Cuckoo Trail is a 14-mile footpath and cycleway which runs from Hampden Park to Heathfield in East Sussex. It passes through the towns of Polegate and Hailsham, as well as the villages of Hellingly and Horam.

* Arlington Reservoir Circular takes about 1.5 hours and starts at Berwick Railway Station.

* Birling Gap walk from the Tiger Inn is a three mile circular walk that should take approximately 1.5 hours.

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* Seven Sisters and Friston Forest circular stretches 7.66 miles and takes you along the cliffs to Birling Gap.

* Jevington, Lullington Heath is an 8 kilometre/ five mile walk.

* Pevensey Marshes Nature Reserve is a large area of grazing marsh with numerous ditches and pools.

*The Cuckmere Pilgrims Path only opened in 2018 and is a circular route of approximately 12-14 miles along existing footpaths which can be walked in one day. It starts at St Andrew’s church, Alfriston.

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* Sovereign Harbour Walking Route - There are a wide variety of walking routes that run in and around Sovereign Harbour and The Waterfront, ranging from 10 minutes to one hour.

Walks around Adur, Worthing and Arun

* The expansive area of woodland surrounding the Angmering Park Estate has miles of public bridleways and footpaths for walkers and cyclists to try.

* Goring to Ferring Beach

* Houghton Forest, Arundel has many walks through the woodlands but a nice one is the Houghton Forest and Slindon walk on the Experience West Sussex website.

* Arundel to Littlehampton River walk stretches over five miles and is via a flat, riverside path.

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* The Broadwater Heritage trail may not be a countryside walk but this 90 minute, 1.5 mile trail is packed full of history. You can find this walk, and others, on the Worthing Heritage Alliance website.

* Although this is called the Cissbury Ring Butterfly Walk, this can be done anytime of the year and still offers beautiful views. This is an easy three hour, three mile route.

* The 11 mile circular walk in Shoreham by Sea starts in the town and takes you along the River Adur to Bramber Castle before heading across the downs and returning to the town via the Mill Hill Nature Reserve.

* Swanbourne Lake, Arundel

* Worms Wood, Middleton-on-Sea, is a large new native woodland site including oak ash maple birch and cherry. A good path network and grassy ridges run throughout.

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* The Bognor Regis Blue Plaque Trail celebrates people and events that have either lived in or influenced the seaside town of Bognor Regis.

Walks around the Chichester district and surrounding area

* There are plenty of hikes around Bignor. An easy hike is the Gattling Beacon loop from Bignor, which takes just over an hour to complete.

* Petworth Park is made up of 700 acres. The National Trust has a free interactive Petworth Park Explorer function that you can use on your smartphone and which will share information about the history of the park.

* Stoughton to Watergate includes forest scenes and views across to the Isle of Wight. There are steep sections on this walk.

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* East Head and Ellanore circular walk is an easy two hour, four mile circular walk. You can see the National Trust walking trail here.

* Harting Hill to Cocking Hill to Bury Hill.

* Duncton, up the South Downs to Bignor Hill, down into Sutton, back over the fields to Barlavington into Duncton.

* The Windmill Trail to Halnaker Windmill starts from Boxgrove Village Hall car park.

* Goodwood Estate has many nice walks, including a seven mile circular walk.

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* For a walk with a difference, why not try the Dunreyth Alpacas walk where you each walk with your own alpaca.

Walks round the Horsham district and nearby

* Knepp Estate has 16 miles of public and permissive footpaths within the Knepp Rewilding Project. The estate covers an area of 3,500 acres, and five tree viewing-platforms, close to public footpaths, offering panoramas of the surrounding countryside. Plus there is also a bird-hide overlooking Knepp Lake.

*Southwater Country Park has a great mix of easy-going walks around the lake as well as the Dinosaur Island play area, and The Quarry, a natural conservation area home to lizards, kingfishers and butterflies.

*Buchan Country Park is made up of 170 acres of beautiful countryside right on Crawley's doorstep.

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* Worth Way Country Park has a seven mile (11 kilometre) route from Three Bridges to East Grinstead that is lovely to explore.

*The Steyning Upper Horseshow Trail involves climbing high into the South Downs and then following the horseshoe shaped ridge before descending back into the town. This is a short but strenuous walk so ideal for those people perhaps short of time but still wanting a challenge.

* The South Downs Walk - Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring from Steyning, takes seven hours and covers 10.5 miles.

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