Near Gatwick Horley Charlwood Mole Valley Copthorne Crawley Down Sussex UK

Horley, Charlwood & the Mole Valley

Just to the north of Gatwick Airport sits the pretty town of Horley just across into Surrey, a popular stopover for tourist visitors planning to travel on via Gatwick Airport. Horley hotels, B&Bs and Guesthouses are numerous and the town boasts a fine selection of character pubs and fine restaurants including Chinese and Indian all listed via the Horley Town Council weblink right. Horley's central location ticks numerous boxes for lingering longer including the fact that it is within easy reach of a choice of designated Areas of Outstanding Beauty including the High Weald to the east and the Surrey Hills to the north west. Horley also has its own station making it easy to explore the area by rail and its central location close to the Kent and Sussex borders make it a perfect base from which to explore Ashdown Forest in Sussex and the Sussex and Kent High Weald which contains numerous award winning gardens and stately homes. The historic Ye Olde Six Bells pub in Horley, which sits alongside the River Mole, is over 700 years old and a top eating and ale house in the area.

Take a stroll down Horley Row in the town centre to view some of Horley's oldest buildings. The Archway Theatre situated on The Drive offers a year round programme of events, performances and concerts. Ladyland Farm, also in the Horley area, is a top attraction with schools and for families during the holiday season. See Ladyland's weblink right for opening times for the public. Horley, typical of many of the delightful market towns situated around Gatwick, has a weekly market in the town centre every Saturday. St Bartholomew Church in Horley is a Grade I listed building dating from the 14th century and sits adjacent to the Ye Olde Six Bells public house.

To the north east of Gatwick Airport the Mole Valley area stretches across Charlwood up to Dorking and Leatherhead and the beautiful woodland and chalk downland around Box Hill. (see the Mole Valley webguide right for details and a map of the area). Pretty medieval Charlwood village sits right on the southern tip of the Mole Valley and contains what is widely considered the finest of Surrey's historic churches - St Nicholas which dates from the 14th century. Initially local iron works boosted the growth of Charlwood but by the 18th century the village was largely a farming base. The village boasts a good choice of hotels and B&Bs, popular again as stopovers for Gatwick Airport travellers. Just west of Charlwood sits Glover's Wood managed by the Woodland Trust. A waymarked walk guides you around this ancient woodland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Parking is situated nearby and an information board is on the site.

Mole Valley Visitor Information Centre, Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SG. Tel. 01306 879327. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm from April to September and 11am to 3pm from October to March. Occasionally open on Sundays.

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Crawley Down Village

Crawley Down village midway between Gatwick Airport and East Grinstead sits on the edge of the Sussex High Weald AONB. The name means simply 'the hill near the pasture where the crows gather', and the village took off around the late 19th century. There was settlement here however as far back as the Roman period after the invasion when iron smelting operated in the area. Read a comprehensive history of the village and Crawley Down area via the village webguide.

A number of estates and mansions occupied the Crawley Down area at one time including The Grange, Crawley Down Park and Tiltwood House (full histories are also on the village webguide). A popular walk in the area is the Worth Way which follows the path of a 7 mile disused railway from Three Bridges near Crawley through Crawley Down en-route to East Grinstead. All Saints Church in the heart of the village dates from the Victorian period with some stunning stained glass well worth a viewing.

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Copthorne Village & the River Ouse

The tributaries of the River Ouse are a significant feature south of Gatwick Airport. In late autumn sea trout push up the Ouse looking for ideal spawning grounds in the sheltered tributaries. The River Ouse is the second largest river in Sussex, fed by drainage from the Weald and a hotspot for wildlife not just within the river and tributaries, but also along the banks. Key species include birds such as Kingfishers, Grey Wagtails, Reed Warbler, Redshank and Buzzards who are beginning to settle well in the area.

Common trees along the river include Alder and Willow alongside Ash, Oak and Field Maple. Lining the River Bank are Meadowsweet, Ramsons, Hemp Agrimony, Water Mint and Water Violet. The Sea Trout is the river's most prevalent fish although you'll also find Barbel, Bullheads and wild Brown trout amongst others. For a map and details on the habitats and wildlife within the River Ouse and its tributaries see the Sussex Ouse Conservation Society's webguide.

The Copthorne & District Angling Society has access to 8 miles of the Sussex River Ouse for fishing as well as five local lakes near to Copthorne, making the area a hotspot for fishing. The local Copthorne Golf Club are also in the area. The club has a long history dating back to 1892 and the old course is beautifully set within woodland which is easily accessed off Junction 10 of the M23. The golf course is a classic heathland/woodland course and a challenge open to visitors. The club house offers extensive catering facilities.

Copthorne Golf Club, Borers Arms Road, Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3LL. Tel. 01342 712033.

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Lingfield Park Racecourse

Just north of the Surrey and Sussex Border and East Grinstead sits Lingfield Park Racecourse, one of Europe's busiest racecourses hosting around 90 meets annually (2008 saw 91 meets). The Polytrack covers the full range of Turf Flat, Turf National Hunt and all-Weather Flat Racing. Racing is all year round at Lingfield Park unlike some racecourses. A golf club is also on-site and the course is a mere 30 miles from central London.

The Racecourse dates from 1890 when it was first opened by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. Note the Prince of Wales feathers in Lingfield's logo. Extensive corporate, conference, wedding and leisure event facilities are on-site. Under Arena Leisure plc which also owns Folkestone, Doncaster, Royal Windsor and Wolverhampton Racecourses, exciting developments are planned at Lingfield Park including more new stands and a luxury leisure country club hotel under Marriott.

Lingfield Park Racecourse & Golf Club, Racecourse Road, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PQ. Tel. 01342 834800.

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