Tooths Plantation

The woodland at Tooths Plantation spreads across Sussex countryside between Petworth and the South Downs, offering proper forest walking without the crowds you'd find at the more famous nature reserves. It's mixed woodland - the sort with plenty of ancient oaks, open glades, and the occasional path that's muddy enough to remind you it's actually alive.

Walkers will find it straightforward. The terrain isn't technical, just woodland trails that meander through without major elevation drama. You're looking at anything from a half-hour stroll to a couple of hours depending on which routes you fancy - it's intimate enough that you can navigate by instinct rather than needing detailed maps. Spring brings bluebells if you time it right; autumn's decent too when the light cuts through properly.

It works well if you're based at Camp and Touring site at Old Farm Slindon - less than seven miles away - and fancy a morning forest walk without driving far. Family groups with primary-school kids will get enough out of it, though teenagers wanting dramatic views might find it a bit monotonous. Birdwatchers and woodland types will be in their element.

The nearest proper facilities and supplies are in Petworth itself, which is worth a walk round anyway - decent little market town with history. As for whether the plantation is free to access or has any restrictions, that's not entirely clear from available information, so best checking locally before you head out. Sussex woodland is atmospheric rather than spectacular, but that's rather the point.