Walks near Brighton by train

Beginner-friendly: Just follow the coast and come back along a straight walk. It’s almost too simple! Flat, short and plenty of choices for lunch. Chichester Harbour is a little-known National Landscape. Its protected saltmarsh landscape feeds an abundance of birdlife. It’s a major recreational harbour but somehow has a romantically melancholy and isolated air — you can imagine sea shanties being composed here.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Chichester Harbour

Bosham

Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens

Time: 3h–6h

4 lunch spots: Bosham (1h30–3h in) — the Anchor Bleu, Timberley's, the Berkeley Arms, or Marwick's

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Bull's Head Pub, or the Woolpack Inn

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Beginner-friendly: A beautiful, varied walk with a number of sights along the way and the experience of seeing Arundel Castle gradually emerge on the horizon. Arundel itself is a romantic little town that’s worth exploring and appreciating if you have the time. Visiting the castle and its grounds would require a day in itself. Simply follow the river and cross over when you get to Arundel. You can’t go wrong! There’s only one place to have lunch en route (the George) and it can be busy on weekends, so reserve a table to avoid a wait — book for 2.5 hours after your arrival at Amberley to allow for a leisurely pace with time to dilly-dally and appreciate sights on the way. Book for 3 hours after your arrival for a slow pace or extra contingency! (or just pack lunch).

Waterway: nine tenths along the River Arun.

Arundel Castle

Arundel

Time: 3h30–7h

1 lunch spot: the George (1h30–3h30 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Eagle

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village and stately home. Mostly secluded.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Nymans

The Ruins of Slaugham Place

Time: 4h30–8h30

3 lunch spots: Handcross (2h–3h30 in) — Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe

1 end-of-walk reward: the Victory

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Escarpments, three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Lewes

Time: 4h30–9h

2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h30–3h30 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30–5h in)

1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: South Downs ridge, chalk downland, Firle Park, river valley, ancient villages, forest, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and esplanade.

Time: 6h30–12h30

5 lunch spots: Alfriston (3h–6h30 in) — the Star Inn, the Old Smugglers Inn, or the Six Bells; plus the Ram Inn, Firle (30m–1h30 in), or the Plough & Harrow (3h30–7h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Cuckmere Inn, or the Old Boot Inn

Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Farmland, reservoir, chalk downland, ridge grassland, chalk figure, smugglers villages and seaside resort.

Eastbourne

Time: 5h30–11h30

2 lunch spots: the Eight Bells (2h30–5h30 in), or Jevington Tea Garden (3h–5h30 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Duke of Devonshire

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Beautiful landscapes and multiple historic sights.

Pevensey Castle

Herstmonceux Castle

Battle Abbey and Battlefield

Pevensey Levels

Battle

Time: 8h–15h30

2 lunch spots: Nuthatch Kitchen and Terrace (2h30–5h in), or the Ash Tree Inn (4h30–9h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the White Hart Pub, or Battle Abbey and Battlefield

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: Open chalk ridge, South Downs escarpment, wide well-marked paths, exposed hilltops, riverside estuary path and suburban road walking near finish.

Hilly: half on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 8h–15h30

1 lunch spot: Columba's Kitchen (4h–8h in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Buckingham Arms, or the Crabtree

Warnings: Very exposed in wind.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Spectacular white cliffs in a well-protected national landscape. Immense white chalk cliffs, sea, marshes, meadows and beachfront.

Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Eastbourne

Birling Gap

Seven Sisters Country Park

Time: 6h30–13h

4 lunch spots: the Kiosk (1h30–2h30 in), Cadence Cafe Beachy Head (2h–4h in), the Beachy Head Pub (2h–4h in), or Birling Gap café (3h–5h30 in; excellent)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Cuckmere Inn

Best months: Jun-Jul (when the chalk is gleaming).

Warnings: Very popular and busy.

Source: Trains2Green.

Highly recommended: Three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.

Warnings: Three steep climbs.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Highdown Gardens

Cissbury Ring Hill Fort

Time: 5h30–10h30

2 lunch spots: the Black Horse (3h–6h in), or the Gun Inn (3h–6h in)

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Low hills, Ouse Valley, woodland, nature reserves, fields, hedgerows, historic villages and canal-era river crossings.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).