There's nothing better than a walk in the country, a traditional Christmas past time almost necessary after the indulgence of Christmas day! Living in Brighton we're spoilt for choice with both the seaside and the South Downs on our doorstep. Whether your after a short stroll or a long hike, here are our top 5 walks to blow the cobwebs away.
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1. Chanctonbury Ring
Chanctonbury Ring is one of the most prominent landmarks along the South Downs. The ring is an Iron Age hill fort which is best known for its prominent clump of beech trees.
2. Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is famous for being the home of Winnie-the-Pooh. The stories author, A. A. Milne lived on the northern edge of the forest and regularly took his son Christopher Robin walking there. Don't forget to play Pooh sticks!
3. Seven Sisters
The Seven Sisters is a series of chalk cliffs along the English channel. This walk offers a great variety of landscapes including beaches, wetland and countryside.
4. Devils Dyke
Devils Dyke is a 100m deep v-shaped valley in the South Downs, perched between Brighton and Hove. Local folklore claims the valley as the work of the devil. Legend has it that the devil was digging a trench to allow the sea to flood the many churches in Sussex. The digging disturbed an old woman who lit a candle, and in doing so angered a rooster causing it to crow, making the devil believe that the morning was fast approaching. The devil then fled, leaving his trench unfinished. The last shovel of earth he threw over his shoulder fell into the sea, forming the Isle of Wight.
5. Wolstonbury Hill
This walk takes you through beech woodland at the base of the hill and across open grassland to the top of the hill. Upon reaching the summit, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking 360
° panoramic views of the weald, the sea and the south downs.
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Happy hiking!