East Dean is a peaceful West Sussex village with pretty flint cottages surrounding a village duck pond and green. Our walk climbs through woodland, passing a surprising totem pole. Children will enjoy visiting the milkshake vending machine at a nearby dairy farm.

In 2023, a new playground was completed in Rowlands Castle. Using this as a starting point, if you walk over the splendid village green, passing pubs and a café, you will find yourself in a forest where long grassy rides frame views of Stansted House.

There is plenty of appeal along this easy route along the River Ems from the busy harbour town of Emsworth with its picturesque mill pond, to the pretty village of Westbourne and Brook Meadow Nature Reserve.

Forgive the photography, this little chap wouldn’t look the right way! But in this tree, you might be able to spot a red panda. This has to be the only footpath in the country where you have a good chance of spotting red pandas, rhinos and wallabies!

It is easy to understand why royalty have been coming to Avington Park for centuries; the setting beside the Itchen is idyllic. This walk provides great views of the house, bridges over the river, a hilltop swing and Hampshire countryside at its finest.

What better way to climb the hill up to Selborne Common than via the zig-zag path that naturalist Gilbert White cut into the hillside over 200 years ago? Once you have enjoyed the views from above, make your way back down the beech hanger and enjoy refreshments from the pub at the bottom.