Places to Visit Great Outdoors
Friston Forest Exceat, west of Eastbourne off the A259, walks, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding with TROT permit, picnic tables, BBQs, children’s play area. Gildredge Park and Manor Gardens Vicarage Road, Eastbourne BN21 1HA. Family park, playground, tennis courts, lawns, picnic tables and café.
1066 Country Walk follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror from Pevensey to Rye via Herstmonceux and Battle. Abbots Wood Arlington, Polegate BN26 6SL. Ancient woodland with walks, medieval lake, BBQ hire, picnic tables and play area, 0300 0674880 Arlington Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail Bates Green Farm, Arlington, Polegate BN26 6SH. Seven different walks over three working farms, from April to May but check bluebell blooming, dogs on lead, 01323 485151 Arlington Reservoir, Polegate BN26 6UX. Covering some 245 acres, the reservoir is a nature reserve, Open 9am until dusk. Ashdown Forest Centre Wych Cross, RH18 5JP Metrobus 270. Once a Norman deer hunting forest, Ashdown Forest is now the largest free public access space in the southeast and the ‘home’ of Winnie the Pooh. Walks. Pooh Sticks Bridge and Pooh Corner Shop in Ashdown Forest, Hartfield on B2026, TN7 4AE, 01892 771155 Beachy Head Countryside and Visitor Centre walks, shop and breath-taking views. Open late March – October, 01323 737273 Bedgebury Pinetum Goudhurst TN17 2SJ, 2,000-acre forest for numerous walks, family cycling trails, mountain bike, dirt jump area, cycle hire, horse riding for TROT members, adventure play trail, cafe and Go Ape, 01580 879842 Boothland Wood ancient woodland south of Uckfield for walks and cycling Chailey Common BN8 4DH, walks, horse riding and cycling on paths only, 01444 831098 Crowborough Country Park Tollwood Road TN6 2NH. Beautiful 16-acre nature reserve, tracks, ponds, picnic areas, 01892 652907 Cuckmere Valley BN26 5TT, National Trust land, open dawn until dusk, a haven for wildlife and great for kite flying, High and Over hill, chalk horse and stunning views of the Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Valley, 01323 423197 Devil’s Dyke Devil’s Dyke Road, Poynings, near Brighton. Longest, deepest and widest ‘dry valley’ in the UK. Legend has it that the Devil dug this chasm to drown the parishioners of the Weald, though scientists believe it was formed naturally just over 10,000 years ago in the last ice age, 01273 857712
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Hampden Park Eastbourne BN22 9QN. Sports and recreation facilities including those for football, rugby, cricket, tennis, children’s playground and BMX skate facility. There is a café in the centre of the park. 10-minute walk from Hampden Park railway station. Free admission and free parking, 01323 410000 Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve Over 850 acres of ancient woodland, meadow and cliff top grassland, plus 3 miles of dramatic cliffs and coastline between Hastings and Fairlight. Hempstead Meadow Open-Spaces Uckfield, nature reserve along the River Uck floodplain, important wetland habitat. Lake Wood Uckfield TN22 2DE. Once part of the R o c k s E s t a t e , t h e m i x of natural and man-made features create dramatic and beautiful views. Look out for the rocky sandstone outcrops with high cliffs that overhang the picturesque 3-acre lake and the cave-like boathouse carved out of rock, wildlife. Motcombe Gardens Eastbourne Old Town BN21 1PU. Originally forming part of a farmyard, the 9th Duke of Devonshire gave the garden to the town of Eastbourne in 1909. Includes duck pond, sheltered lawns for picnicking. The pond is the source of the Bourne stream from which ‘East Bourne’ got its name. There is an historic round, flint-built dovecote with a conical tiled roof standing on an upper level. Main paths suitable for wheelchair access. Free entry. Newhaven Skatepark and Pumptrack Located off Fort Road, BN9 9DL, in the south of the town, near Newhaven Fort. An exciting project which has re-developed the skatepark and dirt jumps in Newhaven. Park Wood Hellingly. Semi-natural woodland with walking trails and 400m surfaced trail. Peacehaven Big Park skate park, playgrounds, natural play spaces, climbing wall, seating, grassed pitch, café, footpaths and links to the South Downs. Princes Park Eastbourne BN22 7AE. Playgrounds, summer splash pad, boating lake and café. Open all year, free entry. Railway Land Nature Reserve Lewes BN7 2FG. Over 20 acres of meadowland and woodland reclaimed from the old rail yards, incl. the award-winning Linklater Pavilion. The nature reserve is open to the public 24 hours a day all year round and is accessible by wheelchair, 01273 477101
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve TN31 7TX. Explore the saltmarsh on a guided walk and discover the local wildlife and history, Discovery Centre, 01797 227784 Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve BN25 4JQ. Cliffs, downland, grassland and a shingle beach are home to many nationally rare and significant species of plant, bird and insect. Enjoy peaceful walks and stunning views of the Seven Sisters & Cuckmere Valley. Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, meandering river valley, open chalk grassland for walks, bird watching, rock pooling, cycling to the beach and canoeing on the meanders. Tea rooms and visitor centre (open AprilSep), 0345 6080193 Shinewater Park Eastbourne BN23 8AT. Includes footpaths and cycle paths, playground, lakes, all-weather sports court, BMX and skate area, fishing with a permit. Open all year, free entry. South Downs National Park and South Downs Way, including Ditchling Beacon, which is the second highest point in the South Downs National Park with spectacular views across the Weald. Ditchling Beacon was one of a chain of fires lit to warn of impending invasions. Once an Iron Age hill-fort, with its steep northern slope used as a natural defence. Stanmer Park Falmer, off the A270 Lewes Road, Brighton. Landscaped park with lots of walks and two football pitches. Awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund, the park will be undergoing numerous changes
and upgrades. Plus Stanmer House, Stanmer Church, Stanmer Organics, Earthship Brighton. One Garden Stanmer Park’s walled garden transformed & open to the public, plant nurseries, café, market, workshop & events. St Helens Park Local Nature Reserve Langham Road, Hastings. Nature reserve managed by St Helens Park Preservation Society. Ancient woodland with an extensive network of footpaths. The Helen Garden Dukes Drive, Eastbourne BN20 7XH. Playground, putting, bowls and petanque, seafront office 01323 410611 Uckfield Millennium Green access via New Road, Ridgewood or park at Ridgewood Village Hall. Hard surfaced path, dog free picnic area and lots of wildlife. Undercliff Walk just over 5km from Brighton Marina to Saltdean, the walk can be used by both cyclists and pedestrians. Occasionally very wet when the waves come over the seawall! West Park Local Nature Reserve Uckfield. Relatively small reserve covering just over 8.5 acres of woodland, grassland, marshy areas and sandstone outcrops. Boardwalks provide easy access around the site. Wilderness Wood Hadlow Down, near Uckfield TN22 4HJ. 62 acres of woodland and nature trails, lots of children’s activities, wild camping, café and shop. Generally open Wed– Sun, 9am–5pm term time, and every day in school holidays, 01825 830509
BLUEBELL WOODLAND WALKS Here is a selection of places you can visit around Sussex, between mid-April to mid-May, to admire bluebell-carpeted woodlands. To the East: Stanmer Park, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RE - beautiful woodland walks and extensive open lands. Accessible by bus/train/car [parking charge] Heaven Farm, nr Uckfield TN22 3RG, ancient bluebell woodland nature trail, feed the carps and treat yourself to a Latchetts’ ice cream! [entry fee] Wilderness Wood Main Road, Hadlow Down, TN22 4HJ (n/r Uckfield) The Arlington Bluebell Walk & Farm Trail, Bates Green Farm, Arlington, Polegate BN26 6SH [entry fee] Brede High Woods, north of Hastings, High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Free car parks available at Brede High Woods. To the West: Butchers Wood, Clayton, Hassocks BN6 9PH, ancient oak woodland, start from the Hassocks train station and take the path off Keymer Rd (southeast of the railway line). Butler’s Copse, between Angmering & Arundel BN18 9PX, free parking at the end of Dover Lane. National Trust Woodlands [free for NT members, entry fee apply]: From West to East: Slindon Estate Arundel BN18 0RG, Nymans, Handcross RH17 6EB, Wakehurst Botanical Gardens, Ardingly RH17 6TN [parking fee apply], Standen House & Garden, nr East Grinstead RH19 4NE, Sheffield Park Garden, nr Uckfield TN22 3QX. Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves: From West to East: Woods Mill Nature Reserve nr Henfield BN5 9SD [no dog allowed], Ebernoe Common nr Petworth GU28 9LD and The Mens nr Billingshurst RH14 0HR, Selwyns Wood nr Heathfield TN21 0QN, Flatropers Wood nr Peasmarsh TN31 6TH, Marline Valley nr Hastings TN38 9NY. Check the National Trust website to find out 6 things you might not know about bluebells and tips on how to take great pics of bluebells. Source: Woodland Trust, National Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust
www.thefamilygrapevine.co.uk/eastbourne-wealden-lewes Please Check opening days & times before travelling as many attractions don't open every day.
