West South Downs Steyning Storrington Midhurst Petworth Pulborough Billingshurst

West Sussex South Downs AONB

Within Sussex the majority of the South Downs Area of Outstanding Beauty is in West Sussex. Pushing up from main South Downs centre Steyning, which sits alongside the South Downs Way National Trail, the beautiful Downland rolls west towards East Hampshire. The West Sussex Downs contains a wealth of outdoor activities and attractions including heritage museums at Amberley and Singleton, character country inns and quintessentially English villages, ancient Iron Age Forts, Roman villas and roads, stately homes and gardens, farmers markets and nature reserves and ancient woodland. The rolling Downland of course is the main attraction, a haven for wildlife, carpeted with blackberries in early autumn and best explored via the 160km long South Downs Way National Trail which follows the old path of the chalk escarpment and ridges within the South Downs.

Historic Steyning with its charming heritage timber buildings, Norman church and striking Romanesque architecture serves as the perfect base for exploring the South Downs and indeed the Weald to the north. Pretty villages including Bramber, Upper Beeding, Small Dole and Ashurst are in the Steyning area with Bramber boasting the Bramber Castle ruins. Famous ancient sites are here too including the Iron Age hill-forts at Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring. Both of these elevated historic sites afford spectacular views of the Downland and the coast beyond.

To the west of Steyning sit the stunning market towns of the Horsham District - Storrington, Pulborough and Billingshurst and north of Steyning Henfield. All these rural market towns serve as perfect bases again for exploring both the South Downs and the High Weald. Attractions in this area include the RSPB centre at Pulborough Brooks, Parham House & Gardens near Storrington, family farm parks and golf around Billingshurst and horse riding, cycling and fishing around Henfield. Nutbourne Vineyard, Bignor Roman Villa and the King's Mill Shipley Windmill are three further outstanding Sussex attractions in this area.

To the far west of the Sussex Downs north of Chichester are the two historic market towns of Midhurst and Petworth. Popular West Sussex attractions around these two historic Sussex locations, both of which contain a choice of country inns, fine restaurants and specialist shops, include Petworth House and Gardens and the Cowdray Estate and Ruins at Midhurst.

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South Downs Way National Trail

Stretching 160km from Eastbourne in East Sussex to historic Winchester in Hampshire, the South Downs Way National Trail is one of Britain's most popular and beautiful national walking trails. Breathtaking Sussex scenery sits along the trail including on the East Sussex coast the chalk white cliffs at Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters Country Park and in West Sussex the Iron Age hill forts of Chanctonbury and Cissbury Ring near Steyning.

The landscape of the West Sussex route of the trail from Upwaltham to Upper Beeding features rolling chalk Downs, steep scarp slopes and dramatic dry valleys and offers some of the best views of the South Downs and the Weald.

The route is an ancient trail, used by people for over 8000 years as the Bronze and Iron Age features along the way hint at. Evidence of the Romans in the Downs is around Bignor, notably the Roman Stane Street Road. Around twenty percent of the South Downs is woodland.

Particular highlights along the Upwaltham to Upper Beeding section in West Sussex include the two nature reserves - Amberley Wild Brooks and Pulborough Brooks which sit alongside the River Arun. An RSPB centre is also at Pulborough. Large expanses of arable croplands mix with chalk grassland around this stretch of the trail and the spectacular Adonis Blue butterfly is to be found around Amberley Mount come late May and August. For more information on the history, wildlife and a breakdown of particular sections of the South Downs Way see the National Trail's webguide.

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West Sussex Downs Tourist Information

Steyning Tourist Information, Steyning Library, Church Street, Steyning BN44 3YB. Tel. 01903 812751.

Midhurst Tourist Information Centre, North Street Midhurst West Sussex GU29 9DW. Tel.01730 817322. See Visit Chichester webguide for opening times.

Petworth Tourist Information Centre, Petworth Area Office, The Old Bakery, Golden Square, Petworth GU28 0AF. Tel. 01798 343523. See Visit Chichester for opening times.

For Tourist Information on the Horsham District including market towns Billingshurst, Pulborough, Storrington and Henfield visit Horsham Tourist Information Centre, 9 The Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1HE. Tel.01403 211661.

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Farmers Markets in the West Sussex South Downs

Steyning on the High Street Car Park opposite the Clock Tower on the first Saturday every month from 9am to 1pm. For information contact Derek and Vicky Crush on 01403 711057. Pulborough Farmers Market at Pulborough Village Hall on the last Saturday, monthly (Feb to Dec) from 9am to 12pm. Contact Jayne Arthurs on 01798 874388. At Henfield, Henfield Hall Car Park on the Third Friday, monthly from 9am to 1pm Contact Liz Hodgson on 01273 492595.

At Petworth, Golden Square on the fourth Saturday (Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec). These dates alternate with Midhurst 8.30am to 1.30pm. Contact Pip Frederick on 01243 785166. At Midhurst, Capron House Car Park on the fourth Saturday (May, Jul, Sep, Nov) alternating with Petworth from 8.30am to 1.30pm. Contact. Pip Frederick on 01243 785166.

Slindon near Fontwell at Coronation Hall, Reynolds Lane on the fourth Thursday, monthly, 8.45am to 12.30pm. Contact. Mike Imms on 01243 814777.

Wisborough Green Village Market at the village green by the pond and in August only on the village Green. Every second Thursday of each month from 9am to 12.30pm. For details contact Mary Lindfield on 01403 700624.

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