[Sussex] Getting out into the countryside

herecomesaregular · 2025-03-04T10:51:08+0000

I know it's good for my mental health (and I've been v. v lucky in my life to backpack to some beautiful places in the world) but I realised today, living in central-ish Brighton, that I rarely nowadays "properly" get out into the countryside. Last time was a walk along the sisters from Seaford Head to the pub at Cuckmere Haven (my favourite Sussex walk).

I don't drive, and in fact for a month I've been suffering from painful fluid on my knees so my mobility is poor at moment, and all I do is wander around Preston Park, and sometimes down to "see the sea". Not exactly immersing myself in nature (and all the benefits to your mental health that this gives).

Where do you go?

hans kraay fan club · 2025-03-04T10:55:09+0000

We are lucky enough to be very close to the New Forest National Park. So there - but as you suggest, not as often as we should.

Sussax · 2025-03-04T10:55:49+0000

Likewise, never learning to drive and living in central Brighton has made it a bit of a pain to get out in the countryside as much as i'd like.

In the warmer months, it's nice to get the 77 bus up to Devil's Dyke and have a long stroll before heading to the Shephard and Dog pub for lunch/dinner in Fulking.

Thunder Bolt · 2025-03-04T10:58:25+0000

Sussax said:
Likewise, never learning to drive and living in central Brighton has made it a bit of a pain to get out in the countryside as much as i'd like.

In the warmer months, it's nice to get the 77 bus up to Devil's Dyke and have a long stroll before heading to the Shephard and Dog pub for lunch/dinner in Fulking.

Catch a 12/12A/12X which run every 10 minutes to get to Seaford or to the Cuckmere valley. Or a 17 to Poynings, Henfield or Cowfold.

MJsGhost · 2025-03-04T11:00:15+0000

I bloody LOVE a country walk, me. So much so that I now live out in the sticks and can pretty much walk out of my front door into fields.

When I lived in Brighton (Hove actually), I used to get the train to Southease and walk home, which included a wander past the Amex. The Mrs used to live in Hangleton, so we'd walk up to Devils Dyke and back regularly.

Further afield, the old yew trees of Kingly Vale are magical.

We are so lucky to have the South Downs Way - I've walked the whole route, split up into 5 days walking West to East and someday I'd like to do it the other way.

Curious Orange · 2025-03-04T11:02:27+0000

I'm very fortunate that I can run for about five minutes and find myself up on the North Downs. The views from Newlands Corner, St Marthas Hill, and Pewley Down, across the Weald towards God's County are food for the soul. It is also easy to see London from Merrow Down, and sometimes you can see Wembley Stadium to the West of it.

Seagull Stew · 2025-03-04T11:15:51+0000

herecomesaregular said:
I know it's good for my mental health (and I've been v. v lucky in my life to backpack to some beautiful places in the world) but I realised today, living in central-ish Brighton, that I rarely nowadays "properly" get out into the countryside. Last time was a walk along the sisters from Seaford Head to the pub at Cuckmere Haven (my favourite Sussex walk).

I don't drive, and in fact for a month I've been suffering from painful fluid on my knees so my mobility is poor at moment, and all I do is wander around Preston Park, and sometimes down to "see the sea". Not exactly immersing myself in nature (and all the benefits to your mental health that this gives).

Where do you go?

If you want to keep it really local and you wander around Preston Park anyway, then you can't beat the view from Hollingbury Hillfort!

AK74 · 2025-03-04T11:21:50+0000

herecomesaregular said:
Where do you go?

A favourite loop is to walk to The Chattri, then head a little further on to where the footpath leads down to the farm, and then back along the lower road to the start. Very close to Brighton, yet completely peaceful. There's a precise point where all the traffic noise from the A27 ceases to be heard, and all that remains are the sounds of the countryside.

Seagull on the Hill · 2025-03-04T11:22:35+0000

Stanmer Park has some great walking, and there's the village cafe, the manor house, and One Garden Brighton for refreshments.
Plenty of buses pass close by on the A27.

Tom Hark Preston Park · 2025-03-04T11:23:50+0000

Every time I go past on the train, I always have an impulse to get off at Ford and walk along that river path to Arundel. One day...

Nearer to home, sometimes get an impulse to wander through Withdean Nature Reserve. Tho to my shame I've never done that either. One day...

Deportivo Seagull · 2025-03-04T11:27:52+0000

I get to spend time on this lovely bit of water in the heart of mid Sussex.
That’s not me as it’s much, much too neat.

Brovion · 2025-03-04T11:34:52+0000

Seagull Stew said:
If you want to keep it really local and you wander around Preston Park anyway, then you can't beat the view from Hollingbury Hillfort!

View attachment 197713

Oh indeed! (That's the 12th green isn't it from memory?) As well as golf I used to love going up there to watch the stadium being built. (We live at Fiveways so it's just up the road). There was a bench just down the hill from there towards Wild Park. We used to walk the dogs and sit on the bench for ages just looking lovingly at the stadium.

The walk's a bit too much for our eldest dog now, she struggles with the hills, so to get back to the OP's question recently we've been driving out to Shoreham or Bramber and going up/down the Downslink path. That's nice and flat if you've got mobility problems as a lot of it follows the path of the old Shoreham to Horsham railway. (The number 2 bus gets you up there). Had a nice walk there on Sunday ending at the Castle Inn in Bramber.

Hotchilidog · 2025-03-04T11:38:18+0000

herecomesaregular said:
I know it's good for my mental health (and I've been v. v lucky in my life to backpack to some beautiful places in the world) but I realised today, living in central-ish Brighton, that I rarely nowadays "properly" get out into the countryside. Last time was a walk along the sisters from Seaford Head to the pub at Cuckmere Haven (my favourite Sussex walk).

I don't drive, and in fact for a month I've been suffering from painful fluid on my knees so my mobility is poor at moment, and all I do is wander around Preston Park, and sometimes down to "see the sea". Not exactly immersing myself in nature (and all the benefits to your mental health that this gives).

Where do you go?

I don't drive either but getting out and about is still pretty easy. Depends on your fitness levels but a couple of my staple walks from central Brighton are walks to Lewes via Woodingdean and Rottingdean over the downs via Ovingdean from the racecourse. You can get the bus up to the top of Elm Grove if you don't fancy the stroll.

Also the bus up to the Dyke is an easy way of getting out. A walk from the dyke to Shoreham via Truleigh Hill is great and the last two thirds of that are downhill.

Also get the train out to Hassocks and then stroll through the bluebell woods and then take the hill up to the Jack and Jill and take your pick of direction to go (I normally head eastwards).

You can get the bus to Ditchling beacon also. Trains to Southease put you in a good spot for a stroll too.

Public transport is pretty decent for getting out and about. Fewer options than a car, but still a wide range of quick escapes from the City.

CHAPPERS · 2025-03-04T11:45:29+0000

Seagull on the Hill said:
Stanmer Park has some great walking, and there's the village cafe, the manor house, and One Garden Brighton for refreshments.
Plenty of buses pass close by on the A27.

Stanmer is a criminally underused park. Get a bus up to the top of Ditchling Road and walk along the top and down to the cafe where you can pick up a bus back if you don't fancy the whole loop.

CHAPPERS · 2025-03-04T11:49:55+0000

Alltrails is good

https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/east-sussex/stanmer-park-and-highpark-wood-circular

GT49er · 2025-03-04T11:51:24+0000

I've got a nice little park over the road, with a Morrison's on the other side of it. Slightly further afield, but a great favourite, is Cooper's Hill (where they have the Cheese Rolling).

https://i2-prod.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/incoming/article2913068.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/1_TWM_GLO_270519_cheeserolling_1016JPG.jpg

(No, I haven't - and I won't!)

Marty McFly · 2025-03-04T12:56:01+0000

I've been developing a real longing to hike the whole South Downs Way. Alas, I'm over 3000 miles away.

My issue with Canada is the car dependence on getting to nature. When I lived in Sussex I could hop on the 12 to Cuckmere, train to Hastings for Fairlight and the Hastings Country Park, Cycle to - and along - the Adur. It was really very much more accessible than here.

portlock seagull · 2025-03-04T13:49:27+0000

herecomesaregular said:
I know it's good for my mental health (and I've been v. v lucky in my life to backpack to some beautiful places in the world) but I realised today, living in central-ish Brighton, that I rarely nowadays "properly" get out into the countryside. Last time was a walk along the sisters from Seaford Head to the pub at Cuckmere Haven (my favourite Sussex walk).

I don't drive, and in fact for a month I've been suffering from painful fluid on my knees so my mobility is poor at moment, and all I do is wander around Preston Park, and sometimes down to "see the sea". Not exactly immersing myself in nature (and all the benefits to your mental health that this gives).

Where do you go?

Quite hilly, so not sure if knees up to, but if they are why not take the train to Balcombe? Only 20mins up the line and beautiful countryside there with lots of walks. Can send you some ideas and routes if able to.

[Sussex] Getting out into the countryside

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