Walking in Sussex

Walking

Serpent Trail

The Serpent Trail is, as the name suggests, a 64-mile-long serpentine route that begins in Haslemere just on the border between Sussex and Surrey and finishes at Petersfield, travelling through beautiful forests and heathland along the way. The Serpent Trail is a lesser well-known trail in West Sussex and so you can often wander for a few miles without seeing another person. However, some of the scenery along the route is some of the best that Sussex has to offer. The Serpent Trail was opened by Chris Packham in 2005 and is maintained by a number of hard-working volunteers.
The route is waymarked by Serpent Trail discs which are found all along the trail making it difficult to get lost!
More information can be found by clicking here:

High Weald Landscape Trail

About the High Weald Landscape Trail
The High Weald Landscape Trail starts at Horsham in West Sussex and finishes down in Rye in East Sussex. The route is 90 miles (145km) long and passes through the counties of West Sussex, East Sussex, and briefly Kent, covering the beautiful High Weald landscape.
The trail is waymarked in both directions with trail markers of a church and tree. There are slightly different trail markers depending on what county you are in but rest assured they are marked up so you can walk it in either direction!  More information can be found by clicking here.

Sussex Diamond Way

The Sussex Diamond Way is a 60-mile long (97km) route that starts in Midhurst and finishes in Heathfield and covers the low Weald countryside, crossing heathland and woodland. The route was created by the Sussex Ramblers in 1995 to mark their 60th anniversary.
The route is waymarked in both directions, by a circular brown sign with a yellow border and featuring a blue diamond in the centre.
More information can be found by clicking here.

Short distance routes

Chanctonbury Ring – Washington

This walk starts just South of Washington and takes you on a circular loop up to Chanctonbury Ring, where there are breath-taking views for miles over Sussex, before heading back down through woodland. 4.6km – 2.9 miles.
More information can be found by clicking here.

Fairy Bridge – Sandgate Park

This walk takes you around the beautiful Sandgate Country Park and through the Sandgate woods. This is the perfect walk if you have children, as it is all off road, and has the ‘Fairy Bridges’ to walk across, and streams to play in. 2.5km – 1.5 miles.
More information can be found by clicking here.

Chantry Post – South Downs

This walk starts on the South Downs Way and takes you on a short loop heading south off the South Downs Way, then east briefly before heading north and re-joining the South Downs Way. There are plenty of spectacular views across the South Downs National Park and this is usually a very quiet route.3km – 1.9 miles.
More information can be found by clicking here.

Accessible Walks

Beachy Head Peace Path
The Peace Path is a 750 metre circular route starting opposite the main Beachy Head car park and leading to a viewpoint on the Head. The path is a firm and even surfaced track with no gates, stiles or steps.

Bramber – A Walk for All

“a 2.2-mile route along the river Adur suitable for all admirers of the stunning West Sussex countryside. Improvements to the surface of this route have made the path accessible for those with impaired mobility, wheelchairs and pushchairs. The route is within the National Park and is surrounded by beautiful views of the South Downs. Stretched along the river, the habitat offers the opportunity to see a range of birds, insects and plants.” – from the Experience West Sussex website
Hollingbury Woods Easy Access Trail – “Placed along the Ditchling Road, Hollingbury Park has a large grass area and woodland walkways for those who enjoy walks in a country setting. There is also a large playground with picnic tables that is perfect for families” “Alongside the park is a trail that is mainly woodland and glades. The woods provide shade in the summer and shelter during the winter and the route is free from gates and stiles to make it easy to use. The path has a smooth, wide surface which makes it very popular with families with children in pushchairs and people with restricted mobility, including people using wheelchairs. Along the way there are benches to sit and enjoy the surroundings.” – from the Brighton & Hove City Council website