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Houghton Forest

✦ Ancient woodland30 ha

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsAncientBluebells
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome30 ha

Getting here

50.89531, -0.58786

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🐦47+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Shoveler and Wigeon
  • 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Best for

12 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail +44 more · last seen 2026; Ancient woodland — owls, woodpeckers, warblers

Ancient woodland

Very strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600

Bluebell walks

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — native bluebell habitat

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail +44 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Crosswort, Hedge Woundwort, Bluebell +113 more · last seen 2025

Dog walks

Strong match

Free

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Monarch's WayWalking route990 km▾

approximate route of Charles II's escape

Named routeRef MWLength 990 kmRegional walking route
South Downs WayWalking route160 km▾
Named routeLength 160 kmNational walking route
Bridle Road to Bignor Walk, SlindonWalking route10.4 km▾

South Downs, Circular Walk, Dog Friendly, Bridle Road, Bignor, Gumber Corner, The Gallops, Great Bottom, Picnic Spot, Eartham Woods, Stane Street, Roman Roads, 'Six-Ways' signpost, Shippams Poste, Pyramidal orchids, Nore Hill beeches, Nore Hill Folly

Named routeLength 10.4 kmDuration 2:30-3:00Round tripLocal walking route
Nore Hill Folly walk, SlindonWalking route6.1 km▾

The George Inn, Pub, Nore Hill Folly, Eartham, Bluebells, Ancient beech trees, Dog Friendly, Brick Octagonal Pumphouse, Farmland, Wildlife, Nore Hill Folly, Picnic Spot. Purple Orchids

Named routeLength 6.1 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
West Sussex Literary TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

▾

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Arundel Station to Town CentreCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Walberton LinkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

▾

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
South Downs WayMountain bike route▾
Named routeRef 89National Cycle Network
🐴

Horse riding

▾

11 public paths nearby

Public paths
The Denturebridleway · 1.7 km▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 1.7 kmPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

16 photos from nearby open sources

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Monarch's Way descending in Houghton Forest

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Monarch's Way descending in Houghton Forest

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✦ Ancient✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Arundel CastleHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Water GardenUrban park5 km→🌱Stump GardenUrban park5 km→✦Seven sections of Stane Street Roman road between Eartham and Bignor, a prehistoric linear boundary and two bowl barrowsHistoric site3.5 km→✦BIGNOR PARKHistoric site4.1 km→✦Dalesdown Wood earthworksHistoric site1.9 km→