Visitors Guides:
Country ways
With rolling green hills, hectares of downland, rare chalk heath, wild flower meadows and shady woods, East Sussex country has many secrets to unfold.
Walking is a great way to discover the county. You can start the famous South Downs Way in East Sussex, or enjoy a walk over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, with lovely views of the coast and the lower Cuckmere Valley. Join the Cuckoo Trail, a 17km walk through the unspoilt Sussex Weald, or the 1066 Country Walk from Pevensey to Rye, good for bird watching in the marshy Levels on the way, and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The Devil's Dyke, high up at Brighton, gives lovely views over the Downs and is perfect for kite flying. The Ashdown Forest, ancient hunting ground of kings and inspiration for A A Milne's books, offers scenic walks and secret places for picnics.
There are glorious gardens to delight and inspire too, from the Capability Brown landscaped Sheffield Park Garden, with five lakes and trees ablaze with colour in the Autumn, to the intimate, romantic Pashley Manor Gardens, with its moat and folly. Enjoy the formal gardens of Groombridge Place, featuring drunken topiary and Roman Emperors, and then explore the mysterious grottos of the Enchanted Forest. Gardeners love exuberant, exotic and experimental Great Dixter, the life's work and passion of well-known garden writer Christopher Lloyd.
There's plenty to do for all the family. At Heaven Farm in spring, the Bluebell Walk is a carpet of rare blue and you can go mushroom hunting or discover moths by moonlight at Wilderness Wood. Children can feed the lambs at the Seven Sisters Sheep Centre, and will love the funny-faced llamas at Ashdown Llama Farm and the cute meerkats at Drusillas Zoo. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise or go trout fishing on Bewl Water, a natural reservoir set in peaceful countryside. Every kind of swan in the world, and over a hundred species of waterfowl, can be seen at Bentley. Wherever you go, you'll find unspoilt scenery, peaceful trails for walking, cycling or horse riding, secluded spots for picnics and pretty villages, many with traditional pubs, to explore.
