Seal-spotting safaris, ancient forests and iconic coastal walks: Sun readers reveal their favourite Sussex attractions
IF you have a thirst for history and nature, Sussex is the place for you.
This county, which boasts around 140 miles of coastline, has sunny seaside resorts, the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs, country parks and wildlife-packed nature reserves.
It’s also loaded with history. The name Sussex is from the Saxon period, but its history goes back even further – just take a look at the Iron Age hillfort at Cissbury Ring or Boxgrove where the oldest human remains in Britain were discovered.
To find out which natural and historic attractions are worth visiting on your upcoming £9.50 Holiday, we spoke to Sun readers and local experts, and have suggested some of our own.
Here’s our pick of the best…
Explore ancient forests
Daniel Start, author of Wild Guide London and South England, recommends Kingley Vale, just north of Chichester in West Sussex.
It’s a nature reserve that’s home to one of Europe’s most ancient yew forests, with twisted trunks that have stood here for more than 500 years.
Daniel says: “These majestic, gnarled trees create an almost mythical atmosphere, their branches twisting skyward like ancient sentinels.
“Strolling through the groves is a journey through history, with some yews as old as the Norman conquest, sheltering a wealth of wildlife beneath their shade.”
As you explore, look out for various types of orchids on the ground and red kites and buzzards overhead.
Pedal to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Home to more than 4,355 species of plants and animals, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is one of the country’s most important wildlife sites.
Spend the day watching them from one of five bird hides, before learning more in the Discovery Centre (or sipping a cuppa at the Lime Kiln Cafe).
You can reach it by public transport or car, but Georgie Radford-Brown, Assistant Guest Experience Manager at Camber Sands Holiday Park, reckons the best way to get there is by electric bike.
She said: “It’s a more unusual way to get there. There’s e-bike hire at Rye Harbour and you can cycle all the way through the nature reserve to the beach. It’s a beautiful ride.”
Seal spotting
Wildlife lovers can jump in a boat for a seal-watching adventure. Harbour seals are commonly spotted along the East Sussex coastline, while some large colonies of grey seals live off the West Sussex coast.
Chichester Harbour has a colony of more than 40 mixed seals, and you can cruise around the harbour in search of them on an organised trip with Chichester Harbour Water Tours (90 minutes from £25 per adult, £20 per child).
Meanwhile, in East Sussex, a one-hour seal safari boat trip from Rye Harbour costs £37pp.
Castles and cathedrals
History lovers can get their fill on a whole host of historic attractions within easy reach of coastal holiday parks, including a number of famous castles.
East Sussex is home to Hastings Castle (Britain’s first Norman castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1067) and Camber Castle, a coastal fort built by Henry VIII (tip: it’s only accessible via a one-mile walk from Rye).
In West Sussex, you have Arundel Castle with its Norman Keep, medieval gatehouse and award-winning grounds that have plenty of space for kids to run off steam.
Sun reader Clare Johnson, 52, from Brighton, recommends Chichester for “a mooch about”.
She said: “It’s got good shops, a theatre and an incredible cathedral.”
The 900-year-old Cathedral is free to enter (although donations are welcome) and should also be top of your list.
Admire its stunning stained glass windows and look out for the Roman mosaic floor, uncovered during renovations 50 years ago.
Tip: to discover more, book a guided tour (£6pp, free for under-12s) – they run at 11.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Saturday and take around 45 minutes.
Step inside Anne of Cleves’ house
Get a glimpse of Tudor and Elizabethan life by stepping inside the Anne of Cleves House in Lewes, not far from the coast in East Sussex.
The 15th-century timber-framed pad was given to Anne of Cleves at the end of her short marriage to Henry VIII – but she never lived there.
Still, there’s plenty to explore here from its Tudor kitchen to the garden with herbs and fruit trees that would have been grown at the time.
Kids will love rifling through the dressing-up box that will bring their surroundings to life.
Hike along the white cliffs
You can’t miss the South Downs National Park when you’re visiting Sussex – it spans 86 miles through Hampshire and Sussex (both West Sussex and East Sussex).
The park’s crowning glory is arguably the coastal section, particularly the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
You could explore it on foot by picking up the South Downs Way National Trail, taking in epic views of Cuckmere Haven, Belle Tout and Beachy Head lighthouses.
Tip: the views are better if you start the walk from Seaford Esplanade, potentially finishing with a pint at the Tiger Inn at East Dean.
The pub is a short walk away from a bus stop (with routes to Eastbourne, Brighton or back to Seaford).