Walking in West Sussex
The South Downs Way
The South Downs Way is a magnificent 100 mile National Trail. The South Downs Way covers 48 spectacular miles in West Sussex, making it one of the most rewarding walks in the south of England.Harting Down
If you want views, a great walk and peace and quiet too, then the National Trust-run Harting Down Nature Reserve is the place to go.Harting Down lends itself to several different loops in and around the main South Downs Way trail and you can park your car at the top of the hill, rather than climbing up from the lowlands below.
The Monarch's Way
The Monarch's Way is one of the great long distance walking and riding routes in England, wandering all the way from Worcester to Shoreham and tracing the path of the fleeing Prince Charles in 1651.In West Sussex the Monarch's Way passes from Stansted Park along the Downs to Steyning, and then descends to Brighton and, ultimately, Shoreham-by-Sea. Truly an historic route.
The Downs Link
The Downs Link is a 37 mile long footpath and bridleway which links the North Downs Way in Surrey to the South Downs Way in Sussex. The Downs Link Path runs from Botolphs near Steyning to Guildford and provides relatively flat and very enjoyable walking and cycling.WALX Coast and Country
WALX Coast and Country lead approximately 20 walks and outdoor activities a week.We cover areas such as Chichester, Littlehampton, Arundel, South Downs, Worthing, Goring and East Grinstead.
We enjoy beach walks as well as the wonderful countryside of West Sussex.
Our walk leaders are professionally trained and extremely friendly.
Highdown Hill Walking & Mountaineering Club
Organises frequent mountaineering and hill walking trips in the UK and abroad.Healthy Walking
Most councils in West Sussex organise a healthy walks scheme. These are organised guided free walks of differing lengths, different days, times and places.The healthy walks are led by trained volunteers and we know about schemes run by Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex, Adur, Arun and Chichester councils. The walks are very social really inclusive and all anyone has to do is to turn up at the right place at the right time.
For full details please see individual council websites.
Long Distance Walkers Association
National walkers group organise long distance Challenge Walks and support local walking groups too. The Long Distance Walkers Association's online library contains some useful information such as "Looking after the body during the walk" and information about walking equipment.Long Distance Walkers Association website
Horsham 20s to 50s Walking Group
Walking group founded in 1994 who hold two hour country walks based around local pubs on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. A friendly group that does not take walking too seriously.Horsham 20s to 50s Walking Group website
Per-Rambulations
Per Rambulations is the team behind the Sussex Ouse Valley Way. Not only do they have this practical achievement behind them, they also describe their philosophy of walking in some detail. Per Rambulations (or Terry and Peter as they're known at home) want to see the countryside, not just walk through it from A to B.They have a wise quote from Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard - "every day I walk myself into a state of well-being". Well worth looking at, wherever you walk.
South Downs Way National Trail
The National Trails website has a section on the South Downs Way.It contains information about the countryside, wildlife you may encounter, a couple of dozen photographs, an FAQs section, and information about published guides about the South Downs Way. Very useful if you are planning tackling this majestic path.
Sussex Area Ramblers' Association
Sussex Area Ramblers have around 4400 members and 10 local groups throughout East and West Sussex. The website does not contain much practical information for the non member, but has a lot of stuff about campaigns the Sussex Area association are waging, including naming and shaming farms where footpaths have become impassable.Arun Adur Ramblers
The Arun Adur Ramblers meet most weekends and have an interesting and varied programme of walks in the Sussex countryside.Blissters
Blissters is the website of Liss Happy Wanderers who wander in and around Liss, and frequently visit other areas of interest.Walks often take place midweek and are of slightly more than an hour's duration.
If a Walk sounds too strenuous for you, the Happy Wanderers also organise Ambles from time to time - these are a bit easier. The website is unclear whether there are any plans to introduce Perambulations, Shimmies, Strolls, Shuffles or Staggers in the near future however.
Footprints of Sussex
Company who offer weekend walks in Sussex as well as longer guided and supported walks.The Ramblers
The Ramblers say they have been walking for nearly 70 years. They must have sore feet.The South Downs Way
Top class site which deals with the South Downs Way section by section, tells you how to get there, what to look for and shows you plenty of photographs of the glories on offer.Walking in West Sussex
Refreshing website with around 40 different walks you can do yourself in and around Chichester, Arundel, Midhurst and also the Isle of Wight.Nice photos too.
Best Walks
Best Walks is a great resource for people who love walking and want to find out more about good places to walk in the UK. It contains information about many good quality walking guides, maps and other walking equipment.Best walks contains a section on Sussex walks and gives reviews of around 50 books about walking in West Sussex.
Walking Pages
Walking pages is a website which specialises in books about walking - hence the Walking Pages name: clever, eh?.They have details of over 1,000 walking guides describing 30,000 routes of which, naturally, only a small proportion are in Sussex. But it's not too hard to find their West Sussex pages and choose from around a dozen Sussex walking guides.
Horsham & Billingshurst Ramblers
Gives few details other than the year's programme of rambles and contact details for each event.The Goring Girls
Over 45 womens group in Worthing who enjoy a good get together - particularly a good walk.But they also enjoy meals out, trips to gardens and historic buildings and the odd glass of wine or two.
- Arundel
- Bognor Regis
- Burgess Hill
- Chichester
- Crawley
- East Grinstead
- Haywards Heath
- Horsham
- Littlehampton
- Midhurst
- Petworth
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Steyning
- Worthing
- Nature reserves in Sussex
- Beaches
- Major Sussex footpaths
- Birdwatching
- National Trails
- Downs Link
- Hiking equipment
- Monarch's Way
- LIPCHIS Way
- Salterns Way
- Orienteering
- Ramblers
- Walking
- Woodlands