I often get asked, how do you find all these interesting Sussex places? Or people say, How do you always seem to be having Sussex adventures? And that sort of begs the question, is there a secret to exploring and discovery, even if it’s in your own back yard? And the answer to that has to be, well it may not be a secret but there are certainly some basic exploring tips and guidance that can help ensure your time in Sussex is meaningful and help you discover more of the real Sussex. So here goes.
It starts with a map
Or a map app. At Sussex Exclusive we are big fans of Ordnance Survey and these days, their app makes it super easy to do a little research before you travel. Zoom in on the area you are thinking of visiting and look for interesting symbols such as:
- Site of antiquity
- Castle
- Visible earthworks
- Villa
- Neolithic camp
- Remains of Abbey
In short, anything that looks like it might be worth exploring. These symbols won’t always lead to an incredible find but they can give your planning and research a bit of steer or as you try to actually find them, they can give your day out a bit of adventure.
Other resources
There are plenty of books about Sussex, from Ellie Seymour’s Secret Sussex and Secret Brighton to Kevin Newman’s Little History of Sussex and hundreds more, and even a cursory read will often reveal a place or thing you didn’t know about. Another useful resource is Facebook. If you see a photo of somewhere unusual that you have never come across before, save it and include it in an itinerary. That’s how I came to visit the fascinating Chelwood Vachery. And don’t forget to include small local museums on your list of places to visit. Often free, they are packed with useful information and the staff will usually happily share their local knowledge and recommendations. The Kent and East Sussex Kent Railway is a great example of this, because when I was visiting there, their volunteers recommended an excellent local pub that was slightly off the beaten track and a tiny hamlet that had a great story to tell. I wouldn’t have found either without this tip off.
Choose a theme
What floats your boat? Roman history? Food? Folklore? Architecture? The list is endless so choose a theme that interests you and design a unique itinerary around this. For example, when I planned a visit to Berwick Church, I decided to make a day of it and planned an itinerary around the Bloomsbury Set (Bloomsbury Set Trail). Food is often a great way to get under the skin of a place so why not devise your own Foodie Trail. Local dishes and food production is intrinsically linked to both the past and the present of a place, whether that’s the hops of East Sussex, now largely replaced with vines but still used to make Sussex beers like Hepworths, or whether it’s famous figs from Tarring or even banoffee pie from Jevington. Whatever your interest, choose three to five places of interest in line with your theme and then join the dots – ideally by walking or cycling between them (although obviously, that is not always possible I know).
Activate your sense of curiosity and adventure
It’s easy to think that there is nothing new or interesting to discover on your home turf but I can guarantee this isn’t true. The trick to discovering new and interesting finds in your area is to try and see places through the eyes of a tourist. It’s too easy to whizz through life and become blind to that interesting church or building, strange looking memorial or unusual looking mound. But if you stop to find out more, these things nearly always reveal a story and tell you something of the local history and the people who once lived here.
What’s more, if you see a twitten or interesting path, go down it and see where it takes you. If you’re in a local market speak to the stallholders. Ask them about their wares. They are usually delighted to tell you more about their story and this often throws up ideas of other places you could visit; you’ve met the cheesemaker, why not visit the farm where it’s made.
To plan or not to plan?
My personal preference is not to plan but to arrive at a destination with a blank canvas stretching before me. However, our content editor is very much a planner and I’ve learnt through experience that having a rough idea of interesting things to include in your itinerary really helps. For example, on a recent trip to Lewes, we wrote an ambitious list of 15 things we wanted to see.
However, the thing about any good plan is that it has to be flexible. When we arrived in Lewes, the first thing we did was equip ourselves with a local tourist map. This had things on we hadn’t thought of or hadn’t come up on in our research, so we dropped some of the items on our original list in favour of some of the lesser known attractions. Be prepared to abandon your itinerary in this way, albeit if it’s only briefly, if something intriguing catches your eye.
Prepare to go off piste when things go wrong
Even with the best laid plans, things go wrong. Just recently, on a planned cycle route in East Sussex, I found the cycle path was unexpectedly closed. Rather than turn back, I got off the bike and walked (pushing the bike) via a different route and on the way I discovered WWII pillboxes, an unusual tower and some great local characters that I would otherwise have missed. I try never to turn back if I can help it, and try to embrace the unexpected and see where it takes me. That said, I often look back, because the views behind you are inevitably different to those ahead and there can be some great photo opportunities.
Avoid the high season
Even in sleepy Sussex, some places get just too touristy at times. Rye is beautiful but on a busy summer weekend, you’ll be battling with the other tourists and that can make it hard to get under the hood. The first time I explored Rye it was in very early spring and I got there shortly after dawn. The town was just waking up and although lots of things weren’t even open yet, I had a fabulous stroll along almost empty streets and met a couple of locals setting up for the day. I also took my bike and headed out of town for some exploring. Since then, I have been back to Rye many times but I always try and avoid peak season.
Walk
It might sound obvious, but if you are able to, you will always discover more on foot or on two wheels. If you’re visiting a town, have a good long walk around, leaving the centre if need be. If you also want to visit a nearby attraction out of town, if you can, walk there rather than drive, because there is a chance you’ll find something interesting along the way. Better still, walk one of the many official Sussex trails, like the Selsey Tram Way, the 1066 Country Walk, or the Serpent Trail. By their very nature, these trails include a theme and numerous points of interest.
Head to the independents
Whether it’s a hotel, an artisan or a market, try and avoid big chains and head to the little guys. They nearly always have a back story and they can help you explore the area with their local knowledge and insights. In Lewes, for example, a local potter told us about the seven breweries that used to be in the town. Later, as we walked around, a building that we might not have noticed otherwise, came to life as one of those old breweries and we started to see the town through a slightly different lens. Similarly, when we talking to Greenfield Wood Stores at Bodiam, they told us they were housed in an old Guinness warehouse and that sent us off on a hop trail!
Say yes
Within reason of course, and don’t ever put yourself in a dangerous situation but saying yes to things you might not say yes to normally can lead to some amazing experiences. I said yes to a ride in a sidecar across Sussex as part of the Ride of the Ruperts. I was a little nervous at the start but it was an amazing day and I met some fantastic people. And it raised money for a good cause.
So go on, get the map out and make a plan. Explore the area where you live or come here for the first time and discover the real Sussex and have some cracking Sussex adventures.
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