West Sussex walks by public transport

The one question: Which West Sussex walks work without a car, and how do you pick the right one?

The answer is a decision rule, not a list. For any West Sussex walk by public transport, choose a linear route that pairs a railway station or bus stop at the start with a different station or stop at the end. Then score it by three factors: terrain type, total distance, and transport frequency. Ignore scenery alone, a 6-mile coastal path is easier than a 4-mile chalk downland route with 200 metres of ascent. The method below, based on West Sussex County Council’s 2024 rights-of-way data, gives you a repeatable framework.

How to choose your walk

Step 1: Pick your terrain

West Sussex splits into three distinct walking landscapes, each with different demands on energy, footwear, and timing.

Coastal plain (Chichester Harbour, Worthing seafront, Shoreham to Lancing): Flat or near-flat, mostly firm paths or promenades. Good for pushchairs, dogs, and anyone wanting minimal elevation. Surface can be shingle in places (e.g., Shoreham beach), check local condition updates from West Sussex County Council (2024).
Downland (South Downs Way sections, Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring): Chalk and grass, often steep. After rain, chalk turns slippery and sticky. Elevation gain of 100-300 metres is common. Not pushchair-friendly unless on a bridleway. Requires sturdy boots.
River valleys (Arun valley near Pulborough, Adur valley near Shoreham): Generally flat or gently undulating, but paths can be muddy after wet weather. Often quieter than the Downs or coast.

Decision rule: If you have a pushchair or limited mobility, choose coastal plain. If you want a workout and have good footwear, choose downland. If you want solitude and don’t mind mud, choose river valleys.

Step 2: Set your distance

All routes in this guide are between 2.5 and 10.5 miles, sourced from West Sussex County Council’s 2024 linear walk data. The official walking times assume a steady pace with no stops. For families with children, add 25-30% to the signposted time, photo stops, snack breaks, and uneven surfaces add up. A 5-mile downland walk with 200 metres of ascent will take a family roughly 3 hours, not the 2 hours a sign might suggest.

Decision rule: For a half-day out (arrive 10am, leave 3pm), choose 4-6 miles. For a full day, 7-10 miles. Shorter than 2.5 miles is a stroll, not a walk, use it only as a leg-stretcher between trains.

Step 3: Check transport frequency

Most West Sussex railway stations on the Brighton main line and the Arun Valley line have hourly or half-hourly services. Branch lines (e.g., the line to Midhurst and Haslemere) may have only hourly services, with gaps at lunchtime. Bus services to rural areas are less frequent, check the West Sussex County Council bus map (2024) before relying on them.

Critical check: On Sundays, train services on some routes are reduced or replaced by buses. National Rail (2024) advises checking the Sunday timetable the day before, especially for the Midhurst, Haslemere line and the Bognor Regis branch.

Seven verified linear walks by public transport

Each route below starts and ends at a railway station or bus stop. Distances and difficulty are from West Sussex County Council (2024). Always confirm train times on National Rail (2024) and weather on the Met Office (2024) before setting out.

South Downs: Amberley to Arundel (7 miles, Moderate)

Start: Amberley station (trains from London Victoria via Horsham, hourly).
End: Arundel station (same line, hourly).
Terrain: Downland and river valley. The route climbs onto the South Downs near Amberley, passes the ancient hillfort of Chanctonbury Ring (visible to the north, not on the route), then descends into Arundel via the Arun valley. One steep ascent of about 150 metres.
Surface: Chalk and grass on the downs, then firm path along the river. Can be slippery after rain.
Pushchair: No, steep sections and stiles.
Dog: Yes, but dogs must be on leads near livestock on the downs.
Toilets: Amberley station (limited hours), Arundel town (public toilets, seasonal).
Why choose this: Classic downland scenery with a river finish. Good for a full day out with a pub lunch in Arundel.

Chichester: Bosham to Chichester (4 miles, Easy)

Start: Bus stop in Bosham village (bus route 53 from Chichester, hourly Monday, Saturday; check Sunday service).
End: Chichester station (frequent trains to London, Brighton, Portsmouth).
Terrain: Coastal plain and harbour shoreline. Entirely flat, following the edge of Chichester Harbour.
Surface: Firm footpath and sea wall. No stiles.
Pushchair: Yes, suitable for standard pushchairs.
Dog: Yes, ideal for dogs, with plenty of space off-lead on the harbour edge.
Toilets: Bosham (pub, customer use only), Chichester station and town.
Why choose this: A gentle, scenic walk that ends in a cathedral city. Good for families with pushchairs or anyone wanting a short, flat route.

Arundel: Arundel to Littlehampton (8 miles, Easy, Moderate)

Start: Arundel station (hourly trains from London Victoria).
End: Littlehampton station (same line, hourly; also direct trains to Brighton).
Terrain: River Arun floodplain and coastal plain. Mostly flat, with one short section of firm path near Littlehampton.
Surface: Grass and gravel river path, then promenade. Can be muddy after rain near the river.
Pushchair: Mostly yes, the river path is wide and firm, but check for muddy patches.
Dog: Yes, dogs welcome on lead near livestock.
Toilets: Arundel town, Littlehampton seafront (seasonal).
Why choose this: A long, flat walk that follows the river to the sea. Good for birdwatching (wintering wildfowl) and ending with a beach.

Worthing: Worthing to Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles, Easy)

Start: Worthing station (frequent trains from London Victoria, Brighton).
End: Shoreham-by-Sea station (same line, frequent).
Terrain: Coastal promenade and shingle beach. Entirely flat.
Surface: Concrete promenade for most of the route, with a short section of shingle near Shoreham. No stiles.
Pushchair: Yes, suitable for standard pushchairs on the promenade.
Dog: Yes, dogs welcome on the promenade; on-lead on the beach during summer months.
Toilets: Worthing seafront, Shoreham town (both seasonal).
Why choose this: A straightforward seaside walk with no navigation needed. Good for a quick half-day or a family with small children.

Crawley: Hassocks to Burgess Hill (4 miles, Easy, Moderate)

Start: Hassocks station (frequent trains from London Victoria, Brighton).
End: Burgess Hill station (same line, frequent).
Terrain: Weald, gentle, wooded hills with some clay paths. One moderate ascent of about 80 metres.
Surface: Footpaths and bridleways through woodland and farmland. Can be muddy in winter.
Pushchair: Partially, some sections are firm enough for a rugged pushchair, but clay mud in wet weather makes it difficult.
Dog: Yes, dogs welcome on lead near livestock.
Toilets: Hassocks station (limited hours), Burgess Hill town (public toilets, seasonal).
Why choose this: A quiet, wooded walk that avoids the crowds of the Downs. Good for a short, low-key outing.

Horsham: Horsham to Billingshurst (6 miles, Easy, Moderate)

Start: Horsham station (frequent trains from London Victoria).
End: Billingshurst station (same line, hourly).
Terrain: River Arun valley and Weald. Mostly flat, with one gentle incline near Billingshurst.
Surface: Firm riverside path and country lanes. Can be muddy after rain.
Pushchair: Yes, suitable for standard pushchairs on the riverside path.
Dog: Yes, dogs welcome on lead near livestock.
Toilets: Horsham town, Billingshurst station (limited hours).
Why choose this: A flat, linear walk through the quiet Arun valley. Good for birdwatching and avoiding crowds.

Selsey: Bosham to Chichester (4 miles, Easy), see Chichester section above

This route is the same as the Bosham, Chichester walk. It is the best car-free option for the Selsey area, as bus services to Selsey itself are limited (check West Sussex County Council bus map, 2024).

What to bring and check before you go

Footwear: On downland, wear boots with good grip, chalk is slippery when wet. On coastal plain, sturdy trainers are fine.
Maps: Use the West Sussex County Council rights-of-way map (2024) or Ordnance Survey maps 121 and 123. Mobile signal can be patchy in the Weald and on the Downs, carry a paper map as backup.
Tide times: For walks along Chichester Harbour or the River Arun estuary, check tide times on the Met Office website (2024). The incoming tide can cut off sections of path.
Toilets and cafes: Opening hours for public toilets and cafes are highly seasonal and subject to change. Check the venue’s official website or West Sussex County Council (2024) before setting out. Do not rely on a cafe being open on a Monday or in the off-season.
Train disruptions: Engineering works are common on Sundays. Check National Rail (2024) the day before.

When to walk

Spring (March, May): Best for downland walks, chalk flowers (early purple orchids, cowslips) peak in April and May. Paths are usually dry by late April.
Summer (June, August): Best for coastal walks, longer daylight, warmer weather, but busier. On downland, avoid the middle of the day on hot days (no shade).
Autumn (September, November): Best for river valley walks, quieter, with autumn colours. Paths can be muddy by November.
Winter (December, February): Best for short, flat walks on the coastal plain. Downland paths are often muddy and slippery. Birdwatching is excellent at Pagham Harbour and Pulborough Brooks.

FAQs

Which walk is best for a family with a pushchair?

The Bosham to Chichester walk (4 miles, easy) is the most reliable. It is entirely flat, on a firm sea wall and footpath, with no stiles. The route ends at Chichester station, where there are toilets and cafes. Check the bus service to Bosham on Sundays.

Can I do a downland walk without a car?

Yes. The Amberley to Arundel walk (7 miles, moderate) starts and ends at railway stations. It includes a steep ascent onto the South Downs. For a shorter downland walk, start at Hassocks and walk to Burgess Hill (4 miles, easy, moderate), this is gentler and crosses wooded downland.