The Donkey Beneath Donkey Bridge

The name alone makes you stop and ask questions. Donkey Bridge, near Horsham, takes its rather literal title from a bronze donkey sculpture tucked beneath the actual stone bridge - a quirky Sussex detail that rewards the curious. It's not going to take up your afternoon, but it's exactly the kind of odd thing that makes wandering rural footpaths worthwhile.

What you get is a brief, oddly charming encounter with a piece of local character. The donkey sits there, modest and slightly weathered, a nod to the bridge's working past when the animal did regular shifts crossing here. It's low-key, which suits the landscape around Horsham perfectly. You'll walk to it, see it, have a think about why someone commissioned a bronze donkey, and move on. Twenty minutes maximum.

Historia types and anyone with a soft spot for the unconventional will get the most from this - it's not a mainstream tourist tick-box. Families with young kids might enjoy the novelty factor, though it's hardly a destination in itself. The real win is using it as part of a wider exploration of the bridleways and fields around Horsham.

If you're staying at Knepp Wildland Safaris or Goweco Glamping, both within striking distance, you could easily fold this into a morning's walk. It costs nothing and asks little of your time. Worth the detour if you're already in the area and fancy something genuinely different from the usual heritage site routine.