A countryside walk and Elizabethan heritage

Three walks, of 4 to 8 miles each, will take you around Steyning and along the River Adur. Steyning Parish Council (Tel: 01903 812042) produces a leaftlet with details of the routes  ‘Steyning Walks Around the Adur Valley’. One of these walks can be combined with lunch at White Horse Inn in the High Street (http://www.whitehorseinn-steyning.co.uk/) and an afternoon visit to St Mary’s House and Gardens in Bramber (www.stmarysbramber.co.uk). Originally a pilgrim’s inn, the house is still lived in and has a unique Elizabethan “Painted Room”. There are charming gardens, topiary and tearooms. Tel: 01903 816205

Walk to Parham House and explore the Deer Park and Gardens

You can walk south from Pulborough along the River Arun before heading eastwards to Wiggonholt. If you then head south across the Common and Northpark Wood and you’ll come to the ancient deer park that surrounds Parham House and Gardens. You could stop off in one of Storrington’s pubs for lunch, before discovering the Elizabethan house that has been sensitively restored and has a fantastic collection of paintings, furniture and needlework. There is also a stunning greenhouse display, a brick and turf maze, herb garden, orchard and a lake. There are two gardens at Parham - the 18th century Pleasure Grounds, seven acres of rolling lawns, a lake, specimen trees, some swings and fine garden statuary - and the magnificent four-acre walled garden with a 1920s Wendy House and an orchard, abundantly-stocked greenhouse, herb and vegetable gardens, and borders of Edwardian opulence.

The Garden Shop sells a huge variety of plants, many of them unusual, and all home grown. It is also the setting for an annual Garden Weekend held in July. www.parhaminsussex.co.uk

The Wey-South Path – Canal Country

In the mid 1800’s the Wey and Arun Canal was the central part of the link between the River Thames at Weybridge and the English Channel at Littlehampton. Much of the line of the canal remains intact and volunteers have been working to restore the canal for amenity and recreation. You can walk along the towpath or, in season, take a boat trip. Walks take you south to Amberley Working Museum or you can do a 7 mile round walk from Pulborough station as is described in detail on the Walking Route section of the main Rural Ways website.