> SlowTrav > United Kingdom & Ireland > Travel Notes > Southeast England

Southeast England - Walking and Nature Reserves

by WSB

Links are given in the text below to maps on the Multimap website; this will initially display an extract from the local Ordnance Survey map zoomed in to the place of interest; you can zoom in and out, see other local points of interest and also switch to other map formats if you prefer; there are also links on the map to Wikipedia articles on other nearby places.

Walking

You don’t need to seek out long-distance footpaths or hiking trails to have a good walk in England, although there are several organized trails in the region, such as the South Downs Way, which is perhaps the best, the Pilgrim’s Way, the North Downs Way, the 1066 Country Walk, the High Weald Landscape Trail, the Saxon Shore Way, the Greensand Way, and others.

All you need is a good map (an Ordnance Survey Landranger Map at 1:50,000 or Explorer Map at 1:25,000) showing the extensive network of footpaths that fill the countryside, some good shoes and some reasonable weather. It is almost true that you could stick a pin in the map and have a good time. If you look at any of the Ordnance Survey maps shown on the Multimap links you will be able to see how many public footpaths there are … they are indicated by red dashed lines on the Landranger maps and green dashed lines on the Explorer maps.

A typical country path

One possibility is to follow a route that takes you via a well-chosen pub (or two). Numerous little books have been published with suggestions for such walks. Here is a small personal selection of possible walks (not necessarily involving pubs):

Along the coast anywhere between Seaford and Eastbourne. The cliff-tops near Beachy Head are most exhilarating (but please walk with care, especially in windy weather!) and the best views are to be had walking eastwards from Seaford towards the Seven Sisters (Multimap).
Almost anywhere on the South Downs. For a short walk try a circuit of Cissbury Ring (Multimap), or anywhere along the stretch between Steyning and Amberley (Multimap).
“Poohsticks Bridge” (Multimap) on the edge of Ashdown Forest.

Nature Reserves

Dungeness RSPB Bird Reserve, Kent (Multimap)

Arundel Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Bird Reserve, West Sussex (Multimap)

Warnham Pond Local Nature Reserve, Horsham, West Sussex (Multimap)
Included here as a good example of many well-run local nature reserves in the region. (Also it has a good café!)

Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve, West Sussex (Multimap)

Pulborough Brooks RSPB Bird Reserve (Multimap)
(particularly good café).