Places to Visit - Competition!

Walking, Cycling and Open Spaces

Ardingly Reservoir West Sussex RH17 6SQ – 01444 892549. The Kingfisher Trail nature walk and limited cycling/horse riding.

Ardingly Activity Centre water sports centre with pre-bookable activities such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing and raft building.

Ashdown Forest Centre Wych Cross RH18 5JP – 01342 823583 Metrobus 270. Once a Norman deer hunting forest, Ashdown Forest is now one of the largest free public access sites in the South East, and the ‘home’ of Winnie the Pooh. Walks, Forest Centre and riding with a permit.

Batchelor’s Field Recreation Ground Bolney RH17 5PE Tarmac pump track designed and built by the company who built the 2012 Olympic BMX Supercross track.

Beacon Bikes London Road, Albourne BN6 9BQ – 07542 188633. Electric bike hire and free off road parking. A hidden gem, tucked away and secluded from the road. Located within the Q Leisure complex 4 miles from Brighton, near Hassocks. The Beacon Bikes Cafe is a family and pet friendly cafe offering homemade and organic cakes and savouries and award winning, freshly ground coffee. The setting includes a full size, all weather football pitch where children can cycle, play football, or run around safely in a no-traffic environment.

Black Cat Treasure Hunts 07445 818996. Fun and affordable walking, cycling or driving treasure hunt routes around Sussex for families and groups, choose a ready-to-use hunt or a personalised adventure for a special event.

Burgess Hill BMX track RH15 8RW. The Burgess Hill BMX track opened in 2014 in Leylands Park. The track is the only one of its kind in Mid Sussex. Chailey Common 450 acres of walks, horse riding and cycling on paths only to protect the wildlife habitats and grazing livestock.

Ditchling Common woodland and heathland walks across the 27 acre site and around a pond with ducks, geese and swans, picnic tables, free parking.

Forest Way footpath, bridleway and cycle path running approx 10 miles from East Grinstead to Groombridge, with seats and picnic benches along the route. Indirectly linked to the Worth Way from Three Bridges to East Grinstead.

Pooh Sticks Bridge and Pooh Corner Shop in Ashdown Forest, Hartfield on B2026, TN7 4AE – 01892 771155.

Skateboard and Scooter Parks at St John’s Park, Burgess Hill; Victoria Park, Haywards Heath; Bolnore Village, Whitemans Green, Hassocks & Henfield Wolstonbury Hill in the South Downs, Pyecombe, has been an important landmark for thousands of years. Iron Age farmers grazed animals on its summit and the Romans left pottery remains on its slopes. Worth Way A 7 mile long shared-use route from Three Bridges to East Grinstead used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and indirectly linked to the Forest Way which continues to Groombridge.

Places of Historic Interest and Gardens

Arundel Castle and Gardens Arundel BN18 9AB – 01903 882173. Open 1st April – 31st October, Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm, plus bank holidays and Mondays in August. With restaurant, coffee shop, gift shop and 40 acres of sweeping grounds and gardens, Arundel Castle has been open to visitors seasonally for nearly 200 years. It is one of the great treasure houses of England, and is home to priceless works of art; view paintings, furniture, tapestries, stained glass, china, clocks, sculpture, carving, heraldry and armour in stunning room settings.

Borde Hill Garden Haywards Heath RH16 1XP – 01444 450326. With a 17acre garden, outdoor adventure playground, zip wire, woodland walks, cafe, gift shop, plant sales and children’s holiday and Halloween activities. Open daily, generally 10am – 5pm and 10am – 6pm on weekends in July and August. See competition p4

Nymans House and Gardens (National Trust) Handcross, Haywards Heath RH17 6EB – 01444 405250 Metrobus 271 and 273. Natural play trail, lovely walks in the Millennium Wood, cafe, gift shop, second-hand bookshop and family programmes in school holidays. Gardens open daily all year round. See website for opening times and dates for visiting the house. See advert back cover

Priest House North Lane, West Hoathly RH19 4PP – 01342 810479. Early 15th century hall house with a traditional cottage garden. Once owned by Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Anne of Cleves, Mary I and Elizabeth I. The garden is planted with over 170 culinary, medicinal and household herbs. Open March – October 10.30am – 5.30pm, open Sundays 12pm –5.30pm. Closed Mondays except bank holidays.

Sheffield Park and Garden (National Trust) TN22 3QX – 01825 790231. Four lakes form the heart of the garden, with paths circulating through the glades and wooded areas surrounding them. Each owner has left their impression, which can still be seen today in the layout of the lakes, the construction of Pulham Falls, the planting of Palm Walk and the many tree and shrub species from around the world. Parkland open daily dawn till dusk, the garden is open daily between 10am –5pm. See advert back cover

Standen House and Garden (National Trust) West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead

RH19 4NE – 01342 323029 Metrobus 84.

Arts and Crafts family home with Morris and Co interiors, great views and woodland walks. Open all year round. See advert back cover

Wakehurst Gardens and Millennium Seed Bank, Ardingly, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN – 01444 894066 Metrobus 272. ‘Kew in the Country’, run by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. With lots of walks, children especially love the rocky Himalayan Garden. Explore the Adventurous Journeys natural play spaces, Rock Walk and Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, plus restaurant, café, plant and gift shop. Open daily at 10am.