Fountain Copse

The woods around Fountain Copse feel properly wild for Sussex - thick deciduous forest with enough space to actually lose the crowds. It's the kind of place where you wander off the main paths and find yourself genuinely alone, which is rarer than you'd think in the South East.

What you're doing here is walking. Good walking, through beech and oak with a stream running through, and the occasional discovery of old woodland management marks on the trees. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities really - you just turn up and walk. The forest floor is soft underfoot most of the year, chalky and damp, and in spring the bluebells are genuinely worth timing a trip for.

It works best for walkers who know their own company and don't need signposting every hundred metres. Families with young kids might find it a bit directionless - there's no obvious loop or destination to work towards, which some will love and others will find frustrating. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper explore, less if you just fancy a quick wander from Petworth.

Based just outside Petworth, it slots well into a Sussex walking holiday. Pair it with Wakestone & Wild Glamping, which is only 4.5 miles away and has proper views - you can camp and spend days working through the local woodlands. The forest itself is free and unrestricted, which means you've got flexibility. Go on a weekday morning if you value quiet.