Hoe Copse

A proper walk through beech and oak woodland just outside Petworth, Hoe Copse is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter, and on damp mornings the whole place smells like wet soil and fungi - exactly what you want from a Sussex wood.

It's a straightforward woodland trail rather than a formal attraction with visitor facilities or signage. You'll find locals here more than tourists, which tells you something about its appeal. The trees are mature and the canopy dense enough to feel like proper forest, not some manicured parkland. Walkers get the most from it - this isn't a place to bring kids expecting attractions or picnic areas. It's for people who want an honest hour or two in the woods without crowds.

Allow roughly ninety minutes for a decent circuit. Go in autumn when the light cuts through the trees at that low angle, or after rain when everything glistens. Spring's decent too if you're after bluebells and bird activity.

If you're based at Graffham Camping just up the road - barely twenty minutes away - this makes an easy morning walk without needing to pile everyone in the car. Woodfire at Westerlands and Bow Hill Farm are similarly close if you're staying in the area. None of the nearby parks are fancy, which suits the tone of this place entirely. It's walkers' territory, proper Sussex woodland, and worth the trip if that's what you're after.