Hammer Moor

Hammer Moor is a proper woodland walk just a few miles outside Petworth, the kind of place where the trees do most of the talking. You're looking at mixed forest with decent paths running through it - nothing too demanding, but enough variety to keep things interesting as you wander deeper in. The canopy's thick enough that it stays cool even on warm days, and there's genuine peace here without feeling completely remote.

Walkers will get the most from it, especially those who've had their fill of manicured park gardens and want something a bit wilder. It's the sort of wood where you might spot deer if you're lucky, though honestly it's a good spot just to decompress and listen to the forest doing its thing. You can probably do a decent circuit in forty minutes to an hour, depending on how many wrong turns you take.

Bring proper footwear - it gets boggy in places, particularly after rain. The nearest facilities are back in Petworth itself, so don't expect a café or toilet block. If you're based at Wakestone & Wild Glamping nearby, this makes a cracking morning outing before heading back for lunch. It works well as part of a wider exploration of the Sussex weald rather than a destination in itself, but that's rather the point of it. Quiet, accessible, no fuss.