The Plantation

The Plantation is a proper woodland walk just outside Horsham, the sort of place locals know about but visitors often miss. It's a working forest rather than a manicured park - you're walking through actual trees being managed for timber, which gives it a different feel from the usual Sussex beauty spots. The paths are well-marked and flat enough for most abilities, though muddy in winter is putting it mildly.

This works best for anyone who just wants to get out of the car and stretch their legs without the crowds you'd find at bigger attractions. Dog walkers love it. If you're after dramatic vistas or a destination tea shop, look elsewhere - this is about the simple pleasure of being among trees. Allow an hour for a decent loop, maybe two if you're in no rush.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Honeybridge is barely over a mile away, or if you fancy something different, Knepp Wildland Safaris just down the road offers a completely different experience with their rewilding project. The Plantation itself fits nicely into a broader Sussex itinerary, a low-key break between more ambitious walks or days out. It's free and open access, which means there's no excuse not to go. The woodland itself is what you pay for, and honestly, that's enough.