County (Historic): Sussex

'Countryside sites ... Circular walks in East Sussex ... Long distance walks ... Guided walks and environmental events ... Fitness walks ... Walks on other websites ...'

Held  Mid May.

Visit 1066 Country

'Healthy walking and Health Walks in Adur and Worthing.'

Access to details of the wide range of 'green spaces' throughout the Arun District, including: Beautiful Parks, Cemeteries, Community Orchards and Local Nature Reserves.

'Our group is centred around Worthing, close to the South Downs National Park. Our walks range from Chichester to Eastbourne, with many local ones.'

Reed Bed Boardwalk  'This SSSI reed bed (designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) is a one of the largest in Sussex. Reed beds are a priority habitat for nature conservation in the UK and WWT are working hard to restore and maintain this vital habitat for wildlife ...'

'The Forest offers the visitor wide open spaces, far-reaching views, deep-sided rushing ghylls and tranquil wooded areas. Each season brings its delights from the scent of the heather in full bloom on a hot summer's day to the mysterious misty days of autumn and winter. Walk away from the car parks and you could easily walk for hours without seeing another person!'

Ashdown Forest

'Adventure in a world of trees. Open all year, Bedgebury is perfect for cycling, walking, riding and playing in a spectacular world of trees ... '

'We are a small, friendly group of people who enjoy walking in the West Sussex countryside'

'Beyond the Garden lies 200 acres of parkland and woodland set within the beauty of the High Weald.
To the North are the woodland walks of Warren and Stephanie's Glade. The South Park features a variety of popular amenities, including Parkland and Woodland Walks.'

'We want to have green spaces that are used and valued by the whole community. Along with Natural England we aim at everyone having an accessible natural green space less than 300 metres from their home. We have seven Green Flag parks in the city, which have been recognized for their high standards and the service they provide for their communities.'

'We are a walking and social group based in Brighton and Hove with over six hundred members. Many of our new members are in their 30's, 40's and 50's. We have two active groups which are loosely based on age: 30s-50s - mainly walkers in their thirties, forties and fifties;  All ages - many members are retired'

'The Club aims to provide, good company and opportunities for the healthy enjoyments of the countryside walking in Sussex.'

'The Walking Group is a friendly mixed group of men and women ... '

'We have miles of footpaths and bridle ways in the Parish and all will take you through beautiful, rolling countryside ... I have almost 20 walks starting from Burwash with many of them connecting the local villages. There are a mixture of long and shorter walks some of which intertwine, but each have their own character. I decided it would be a good idea to share the walks and by creating a Website it would give all fellow walkers the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and views available in this area.'

Burwash Parish Council

'Chailey Common is one of the largest heathland commons in the South of England, covering 450 acres and was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1966. It has also been made a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its heathland plants and diverse insect and bird communities ... Chailey Common is open access land, but to minimise disturbance to wildlife it is better to keep to the footpaths. Leaflets on self-guided walks around the Common are available from East Sussex County Council ... '

Chailey Commons Walks Leaflets [Chailey Commons Society] | Woods, Commons and Fields of Chailey [Travel Log Lewes]

'Walking around Chichester Harbour is always a joy. There are over 90km of public rights of way through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Many of these paths run right along the shoreline giving fantastic views of the water. Others cut across farmland and through the picturesque harbour villages.'

Chichester Harbour Conservancy

ALERT Festival been heldLate September but it seems no longer.

Wealden District Council

'Crawley Branch of the Ramblers is a caring group. We like to walk for pleasure and the enjoyment of other peoples' company, and for the exercise. We are of mixed ages, some young, some older and some very old! Our walks are researched and walked in advance to make sure they are suitable for all, checking for hazards in case there are problems for those who are less able than others.'

'The Interest Groups are informal and run on a self-help basis. All members are encouraged to contribute their own particular skills, knowledge, ideas and experience. U3A is dedicated to learning for its own sake ... It is essential to contact the Group Leader before attending a Group Meeting, especially if choosing a group not previously attended, to ensure that a place is available and to get up-to-date information about the dates, times and venue.'

'The Society brings together those who are interested in the local public footpaths and bridleways of Ditchling, Streat and Westmeston.'

Exploring Ditchling by Footpaths Conservation Society  'Ten family walks, between three and six miles long, in and around the picturesque villages of Ditchling, Streat, and Westmeston, including Ditchling Common and Ditchling Beacon.'

'Membership of the Eastbourne Rambling Club is open to both newcomers and experienced walkers alike of any age as a wide range of walks is offered to suit most abilities. The Club aims to encourage greater knowledge, care and love of the countryside, to secure and preserve rights of way within its area and to facilitiate social and international friendship.'

The freely-accessible Walks are categorized into 'East' and 'West' Sussex, and then within the West into: [1] Downs and Coast - - - : [2] Weald and Borders.

'South Downs Way Walking Holidays ... Short and Weekend Break Walking Holidays ... Baggage Transfers ... Annual South Downs Way Walk ... Local Guided Walks ... Local Health Walks ...'

South Downs Way Annual Walk

'The Forest Way is a linear Country Park providing walking, cycling, horse riding and the quiet enjoyment of the countryside. It runs for around 16 km from East Grinstead to Groombridge. Major improvements to the track surface in 2002 led to its inclusion in the Sustrans National Cycle Network. To the west of East Grinstead, the cycle route continues as the Worth Way along the disused section of line to Three Bridges. In addition, there are as yet unrealised plans to link the Forest Way from Groombridge with the Cuckoo Trail, another trail following the route of a disused railway line, which runs from Heathfield to Hampden Park near Eastbourne.

A score or so of Walks whose details can be downloaded from the Website.

'The area around Hassocks provides ample opportunity to get out and explore the countryside, with its lovely villages and the nearby South Downs.'

Leslie Campbell

Access to 'a very comprehensive list of locally available keep-fit activities' including their 'Strolling' and 'Walking' Groups.

The Walking Group 'has continued to maintain a varied programme of member–led walks during the year, some with a literary or historical interest, but all enabling us to enjoy the beauty of the countryside. We've walked through snow (occasionally), mud (often), climbed stiles, scaled hills and enjoyed each other's company; not to mention the refreshment in various hostelries at the end of each walk'.

'We organise walks and events in East and West Sussex - and occasionally further afield. Walks vary in length but are normally between 15 and 25 miles, depending upon the season. They offer a challenge and the opportunity to explore new areas and meet new people. You are most welcome to join any walk in the programme.'

'We are a friendly walking group that arranges a regular programme of walks, social events, coach outings, and holidays for members. We also maintain rights of way in the area, provide courses for members on map reading and becoming walk leaders. We have produced books of walks in our local region.'

'The Group was formed in 1973 and currently has over 500 members. We offer a varied programme of walks throughout the year to suit all ages and walking abilities.'

'There are stargazing walks, romantic rambles, beachside walks and pub trails for you to enjoy in Sussex.' Note that the Web pages originally cited here could not now be found; so the Link has been replaced by something more generic within the 'New' NT Website.

'Our Club has several very active Groups in EAST SUSSEX ~ where we have been arranging and leading Walking Events regularly since 2007. Our working base is now near Alfriston, in the Cuckmere River Valley of East Sussex. There we have access to some of the best walking in the South Downs ... No annual subscription for members, or "joining Fee" : instead we operate a pay-per-walk subscription system ~ and we keep the subs as low as possible to support our promotion activities, website and event planning activities on behalf of members.'

'Per-Rambulations looks for ways that go beyond mere mileage. Walking is more than a way to go between two points as quickly as possible. It is important to "see" the countryside rather than just looking at it. If we were to have a "mission statement" the nearest we would admit to is the last verse of W H Davies' poem Leisure "A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare".'

'The Sussex Area of the Ramblers was formed in 1976. Membership stands at around 3500, with 9 local groups throughout Sussex, and one county-wide Young Walkers Group.' The Sussex Border Path is 'in the care of Sussex Area Ramblers'.

'There are many opportunities to enjoy green open space in the District. Rother District Council manages a variety of open spaces as do the District's Town and Parish Councils ... Most of Rother is designated for its quality countryside with a good network of quiet roads and public footpaths to explore ... Rother is home to some of the most stunning coastline on the South Coast and generations of families have enjoyed days out and holidays here for many years.'

'A few years ago a series of leaflets were published giving details of circular walks in the Parish. Paper copies are now in short supply but scans of these leaflets may be accessed by clicking on the links ... Listed are the distances involved and the start/finish points for the walks.'

'This large area of land is a mosaic of habitats beside the sea with shingle, saltmarsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reedbeds and farmland. Full of wildlife for you to discover with a network of footpaths and 5 birdwatching hides with easy access.'

Details of about three dozen Walks including: 'The hardest walk in the book [12 miles]. A gentle start with the 1066 Path and a great pub for lunch. After lunch, a great coastal cliff walk with 4 steep climbs, Fairlight Glen naturist beach, fish and chips on Hastings seafront, so one for summer.'

Full details of about three dozen Walks around and about West Sussex.

'Situated close to the historic city of Chichester, Selsey offers close access to some of the top wildlife destinations on the South Coast. It lies at the heart of the RSPB nature reserves at Pagham Harbour and Medmerry and via a series of linked paths is only a stones-throw from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Chichester Harbour.' Held Late May.

'South Downs Discovery now offer high quality, self-guided walking holidays along the South Downs Way. We take care of everything, leaving you to concentrate on the stunning scenery.'

'We usually go out on the second Sunday of the month, including occasional forays with our neighbouring GOC groups ... Walks are normally 6 to 10 miles and designed to cover a range of abilities and tastes. We often bring our own packed lunches or stop for a pub lunch ... Most afternoons end with fresh tea and coffee at the meeting point plus a range of delicious cakes supplied by our members.'

'We are an independent club of around 200 local people ... with a common interest in walking for pleasure in the Sussex countryside. Our membership is drawn from across Sussex and beyond, joining us from near and far to enjoy our walks.'

'A Walking Group doing walks of 12 to 18 miles in the winter and 16 to 20 miles in the summer. Just about all walks stop at a Pub/Inn for refreshments at Midday, but most people have a Picnic Lunch. Non Walking members often come to the Lunch Stop to catch up on the latest news and enjoy the company. Also some members who find the whole walk too long either just walk in the morning or in the afternoon. No finish times are published for the walks. Membership is only £5.00 Per Year.' ALERT Formerly entitled the Society of Sussex Wealdmen.

The Society of Sussex Wealdmen

'We are a friendly group of younger walkers aged from 20 to 49 who enjoy walking around the fantastic landscapes of East and West Sussex ...'

'Combining one thousand years of history with independent shops, contemporary art galleries, restaurants and pubs, plus leisure pursuits across the South Downs from walking to canoeing or cycling ... there is something for everyone when you visit Arundel.'

'Experience the beauty of our countryside by meandering around our extensive network of walking and cycling trails.'

'There are loads of opportunities for bracing walks and woodland strolls in and around the Sussex countryside. Some start within Brighton itself, such as the spectacular Undercliff Walk, whilst others, such as the Stanmer Park award winning walks, are a short bus or car ride away ...'

'The Society leads monthly walks around the parish, and nearby, to enable people to become familiar with the local paths and to give an opportunity for a sociable occasion for those who enjoy a walk.'

'Wakehurst boasts ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands, a nature reserve, and an Elizabethan mansion. Surround yourself in the natural beauty of the area, enjoy afternoon tea or learn about the essential conservation work of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. With natural play areas for the children, and wildlife all around, there is something to keep everyone entertained.'

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

'Healthy walking and Health Walks in Adur and Worthing.'

Adur & Worthing Councils

Healthy Walks in Arun 'started in the Arun district in 2001 by Inspire Leisure, is still going strong, with now over 500 registered walkers, walking in Arundel, Littlehampton, Aldwick and Bognor Regis'.

Arun Wellbeing

'HeartSmart walks are free, fun and full of local beauty. These walks are led by volunteer Walk Leaders and are designed to cater for all ages and abilities. The walks offer opportunities to exercise and meet new people in a safe and friendly environment.'

Chichester District Council

'Health walks are provided free of charge and all you need are comfortable, laced shoes. Walks are supervised by qualified walk leaders to ensure your safety and enjoyment ... If you would like to try some other walking routes around Crawley please take a look at the Greenways page , where you can find various circular walks that can be done in your own time.'

Crawley Borough Council

Crawley: Your First Step to a Healthy Future

'Welcome to the East Sussex Health Walks. We offer free short walks which last no longer than an hour and some walks also have the option of a 30 minute walk. Our programme consists of community health walks which are open to all and walks for specific groups. The walks take place every week throughout the year (but not on public holidays and bank holidays) unless otherwise stated ...'

Access to free downloadable Walks around and about Sussex, categorized into about three dozen places throughout the East and West Sussex. The number of links for each place varies from a handful to a dozen or so - except for Brighton and expecially for Chichester each of which has several dozen walks listed and ready for download.

'With some of the most beautiful countryside in England, West Sussex is one of the most wooded counties in the country. 80% of the county is rural and over 50% of it is designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whether you want a stroll by the sea, a wander in the woods or a hike over the Downs, there are plenty of routes to explore.'

Details of eight suggested Walks around and about the Parish.

'Since 1972 the Arlington Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail has developed into seven interesting walks over three working farms.' Held April - May.

'The Arun and Rother Connections (ARC) Project  'is a landscape-scale project being delivered by a partnership made up of seven organisations. The main aim of the project is to promote a rich and thriving river system where wildlife flourishes and where people value and enjoy the landscape and natural and cultural heritage of the Arun and Rother rivers and their surrounding environment in West Sussex ... The River Rother flows from Empshott in Hampshire, England, to Stopham in West Sussex, where it joins the River Arun.' The Project is now closed and unfortunately I could no longer find details of the ARC Explorer Trails on their Website.

Originally the Entry for Arundel Walking Festival which was last held in 2014. The Walking Tours, however, have continued.

Arundel Historic Tours

'Take a walk into history and visit the field where two men famously fought each other for the English crown.'

'Walkers flock to Beachy Head for the magnificent scenery, abundant wildlife and historic locations. Choose a short, gentle walk or challenge yourself with a longer route around the area. Whichever you choose, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views.'

The Gilbert Estate

Beachy Head and Eastbourne [Fancy Free Walks] (PDF)

'A wander through the fine, varied landscapes of the High Weald en route to scenic Bewl Water, the largest expanse of water in the south east of England ... The route uses parts of the Sussex Border Path and wanders along the shores of Southern Water's Bewl Water reservoir.'

Bewl Water Woods [Woodland Trust]

'There are both circular walks and linear walks on this website. The linear walks involve steaming to the start point by Bluebell Railway train.'

Bluebell Railway Walks

'The high-speed line puts this unique corner of Sussex within easy reach of London. This walk explores some of its remarkable landscapes – hills, orchards, salt marsh and reed bed – as well as some of its rich history, both shaped by a retreating sea.'

'Brighton & Hove City Council is responsible for the public rights of way around our city - public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic. The Council will continue to be responsible for rights of way in the South Downs National Park.'

Brighton & Hove City Council

'Runs from Horley to Brighton. Invented by a commuter who had looked out of the train window for years but never walked in the countryside, each section of the walk starts and ends at a railway station.'

Sussex Wanderings

The Brighton Way [John Merrill Walk Guides] | Brighton Way [LDWA]

'A route between Chichester and West Dean following the line of part of the disused Chichester to Midhurst railway.'

West Sussex County Council

Paths and trails on 'open access' land allowing a circular walk between the Memorial and the Windmills. Accessible by several bus services.

Brighton & Hove City Council

The Chattri Memorial Service

'Chichester Ship Canal passes through 4 miles of open farmland from the Basin to Chichester Harbour at Birdham. The towpath is part of the Lipchis Way and cycling is permitted. The path connects with the Bill Way at Hunston and Salterns Way at Birdham, which are long-distance cycle routes to the sea. There are information boards along the canal and also historical remains of the original navigation, including Poyntz Bridge near the basin and the Selsey tramway abutment at Hunston.'

Chichester Ship Canal Trust

'3 Award-Winning Galleries - Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne, De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and the Jerwood Gallery in Hastings - connected by 25 miles of coastline in East Sussex.'

'Join our Community Rangers as they host several guided walks each year around our beautiful Nature Reserves across the district.'

Lewes District Council

'We’ve teamed up with the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership to bring you circular walks in Crawley, called the "Greenways". They all have different levels of difficulty, taking in all parts of the town.'

Crawley Borough Council

'Crowborough is the largest and highest inland town in East Sussex, set within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and bordering the Ashdown Forest. The gorgeous countryside around the town is a walkers’ paradise.' Usually held early May. ALERT Link to 'Crowborough Town Council' Website inaccessible at Review; replaced with Link to Test Site.

Crowborough Town Council

'The picturesque trail follows the former "Cuckoo Line" railway track and stretches from Heathfield to Eastbourne Park. It passes through Horam, Hailsham and Polegate.'

Wealden District Council

'Hastings is an acclaimed coastal town with a long history of smuggling and conspiracy. There are plenty of seaside attractions and a long beach, but it also has an Old Town steeped in history, with black beamed houses overhanging the streets ... ' Two Self-Guided Walks to purchase online.

Curious About ... ?

'Advice is provided to the Council and other organisations to improve access to the countryside for recreation whilst protecting wildlife and the landscape ... Meetings are open to the public ... You can download minutes of recent meetings.'

'East Sussex has around 2,000 miles (3,218km) of footpaths, bridleways and byways. These public rights of way give access to some of the most beautiful countryside in the County ... The Rights of Way Map covers the whole county and lets you zoom in to any area to show the footpaths, bridleways and byways in that location. You can also find out if there are any stiles, gates or bridges on the paths.'

'Four walks between Eastbourne town centre and areas including the seafront, Meades and Old Town' AND 'Four walks in the Shinewater area, including three circular routes'

'Nine fascinating guides for walking around and observing Eastbourne.'

Walking Pack Produced By The Eastbourne Society

'The 47 km (29 miles) stretch of the England Coast Path (ECP) from Camber to Folkestone is now open to the public. Coastal access rights came into force along this stretch of coast on 19 July 2016 by order of the Secretary of State.'

'This is a peaceful mainly woodland walk through one of the wildest nature reserves in south east England. It runs through the hilly country just north of the village of Fittleworth, taking you along little-known paths, visiting the cottage where Elgar composed many of his later works, with fine views and refreshments in the village. '

'It’s a rare pleasure to find a place as well set up for four-seasons walking as East Dean ...'

'Inaugurated in 2009, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Greenwich Meridian, the walk begins at the splendid monument to King George V at Peacehaven in East Sussex and ends ... on the coast at Sand le Mere in East Yorkshire.'

Graham and Hilda Heap

'This is a lovely cliff top walk starting at the car park near Fairlight Coastguard Station (CS). Simply walk down the track to the CS, turn right onto the well marked coastal path and enjoy the views. If in doubt of the route, keep the sea to your left. To return, simply follow the outward route. And don’t forget, if you only do one way you’ll need some form of transport to get back to Fairlight if you park there!' Note 'Bandwidth Limit Exceeded' can be encountered on the Website.

The Hiker

'Using the 7km beachside traffic-free route is the perfect way to discover the extensive Hastings seafront – with plenty of places to shop, eat and explore along the way. The Route Map lists things to look out for and some places to stop for refreshments on the route.'

Hastings Borough Council

Hastings and St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust

'Hastings is a great place to try some Green Exercise. You can join a guided walk every day or a conservation group at least twice a week. Soon you’ll be able to pick up one of the new walk maps and explore places around Hastings with them.'

Unfortunately, the Website from which this description was taken no longer seems to be active ...

Green Exercise

'A series of 7 gentle walks around the town, highlighting local history and places of interest.'

Mid Sussex District Council

'Crosses the counties of West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent providing an opportunity to explore the heart of south-east England. Meandering through one of England’s finest landscapes - the High Weald Landscape Trail links the area’s ridge-top villages and allows exploration of the features that make the area unique.'

High Weald AONB

'Circular walk ... which virtually encompasses the town of Horsham using paths alongside various watercourses.'

Horsham District Council

'For many people Horsham's greatest amenity is its easily accessible countryside. There can't be many towns this size where you can set out from the shopping centre and be in open country within five minutes. We can even circumnavigate Horsham on the Riverside Walk, and if we choose to walk across town instead we can do so via any number of parks, green spaces and traffic-free paths. To celebrate this we're publishing some of our favourite walks ...'

The Horsham Society

'A classic walk along the sharp, windy northern escarpment of the South Downs, starting with a climb to Clayton’s famous Windmills, then on to Ditchling Beacon’s fine views, before descending to the peaceful valley of the Ouse to end in historic Lewes.'

'This trail illustrates the fascinating and extensive Jewish Heritage of Brighton and Hove and demonstrates that it is among the most important Jewish heritage locations in the country. The trail falls into two linked trails - the Brighton Trail and the West Brighton and Hove Trail.

National Anglo-Jewish Heritage Trail

'Since 2012 I have explored over 140 miles of Kent & Sussex shoreline in day walks. My intention is to publish an ebook of my journey for everyone to enjoy ...' Sixty Walks in total.

The Hiker

'This is a guide to walking in the beautiful and varied county of Sussex in southern England. The walks featured focus mainly on walks up to a day long and are drawn from different sources on the web. Though they are not my own walks I have walked many of the walks myself, especially in the Brighton area, the Downs between Eastbourne and Arundel, and the Ashdown Forest.'

Robert Sarjant

'A long distance route, circa 29 miles, from Haslemere Station to Arundel Station, and vice versa, in The South Downs National Park. Originally planned and published as a 19.25 mile route from Midhurst to Arundel, a new spur of 9.5 miles has recently been added connecting Midhurst Bus Station to Haslemere. Train access/egress is London Victoria to Arundel or London Waterloo to Haslemere.' Unfortunately at Review the Link to the 'Violet Designs' Website was unavailable; so I have changed to the GPS Cycle and Walking Site.

Violet Designs

'A new spur of circa 9.5 miles from Haslemere to Midhurst has been added to the Midhurst Way, now making it circa 29 miles long from Haslemere to Arundel. Access and egress is available via train from Victoria to Arundel and Waterloo to Haslemere ...' Unfortunately at Review the Link to the 'Violet Designs' Website was unavailable; so I have changed to the GPS Cycle and Walking Site.

Violet Designs