Burgess Hill: Walking Routes, Nature and Cycling Experiences

Burgess Hill combines local history with walking routes, open landscapes and activities on two wheels. Anyone planning a trip with children or looking to combine different interests within a group will find several distinct options for planning their days: short historical routes, walks through the town and surrounding countryside, nature observation, as well as BMX and skate park experiences.

History on Routes through Burgess Hill

The Burgess Hill History Trail offers walkers and cyclists two options: a one-mile route and a two-mile route through Burgess Hill. Along the trail, descriptions of local history and points of interest are provided. This allows you to explore the town in a manageable format without having to commit to a single route length.

The Twitten paths offer another perspective. The booklet describes nine walks through the town and the surrounding countryside. Some of these routes can also be cycled.

Natural Areas and Views

Bedelands Farm Local Nature Reserve covers 33 hectares of old meadows, woodland, hedgerows and ponds. The area is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). Access is via the playing fields next to Burgess Hill Town Football Club on Maple Drive, as well as via Coopers Close. This information helps you take the nature area into account when planning your own day.

The landscape is also the focus at Batchelors Farm. From there, views extend across the open countryside to the South Downs. Batchelors Farm can be reached via a bridleway and footpath from London Road, south of the roundabout at Chanctonbury Road. Anyone who enjoys combining routes and landscape experiences on a trip can include this place as a separate item on their itinerary.

The Green-Circle information boards provide additional guidance. In the area around each board, they provide information about birds, butterflies, wildlife, plants, trees and local history. The Green-Circle project also includes a free identification guide for children and younger walkers and cyclists. This gives families specific topics to look out for together along the way.

Active Days with Cycling, BMX and Skateboarding

For cyclists, the Burgess Hill BMX track in Leylands Park is a notable destination. It opened in 2014 and is the only one of its kind in Mid Sussex. The track has a W-shaped layout with long straights and jumps; there is also a separate pump track. This particularly appeals to travellers who want to include sporting facilities in their plans alongside walking routes.

St Johns Park complements this offering with a large children's playground and equipment for children of all ages. There is also a skate park with various jumps, ramps and grind rails. Depending on the age and interests of your fellow travellers, you can use this to extend a day focused on nature and history with a more active stay in the park.

Choosing Accommodation to Match Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Burgess Hill, it is worth first deciding which experiences you want to include. For historical discoveries, the History Trail and Twitten paths take centre stage, while Bedelands Farm and Batchelors Farm offer different landscape impressions. Families can also take the identification guide, playground and skate or BMX facilities into consideration. What matters is not a general list, but an itinerary that suits your group.

If you would like to compare other places besides Burgess Hill, you can also look at Ardingly, Rusper, Trotton, Henfield, Lower Beeding, Hunston, Pulborough and Rake.

For the higher-level travel overview: West Sussex.