Storrington: Landscape, Walks and Local History

Explore Storrington through its landscape, views and local history. Sandgate Park showcases several types of landscape, while Kithurst Hill offers views along the Sussex coast; walking routes add their own historical or puzzle-solving touches. You can shape your stay around nature watching, a specific time commitment or local history.

Landscape and Views

Sandgate Park in Storrington covers 22 acres of woodland, four ponds, five acres of heathland and two acres of grassland. Woodland, water, heath and grassland provide a variety of landscape features. For your plans, the park offers a nature-focused visit, while nearby viewpoints provide different impressions.

Around 37 butterfly species can be observed at Chantry Hill. The figure is approximate; which species are found there can vary by season. If you are interested in butterflies, bear this seasonal variation in mind when setting your expectations.

Kithurst Hill viewpoint lies above Storrington and offers views along the Sussex coast. Unlike the opportunities to spot butterflies at Chantry Hill, the focus here is on the view. The two nature destinations differ chiefly in what you can see: species watching at one, and a coastal panorama at the other.

Walks and Planning Your Time

From the centre of Storrington, the South Downs Way is about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometres) away on foot, with 150 metres of elevation gain; the walk takes about 45 minutes. This gives you a clear idea of the distance, elevation gain and walking time. Local access conditions can change, so check them before your visit.

The Storrington History Walk takes either 45 minutes or one hour and ten minutes. The shorter time is roughly the same as the approximately 45-minute walk from the centre to the South Downs Way; the History Walk also has a longer time option. This comparison helps you distinguish between two different time commitments when planning.

The Storrington Heritage Walk is self-guided and celebrates writers and composers who have lived in Storrington over the past 150 years. Its theme connects local history with literature and music. If you are interested in the people behind these cultural connections, the walk offers a different focus from the landscape and viewpoints.

The Horsham District Mystery Trails are free outdoor puzzle walks in Storrington. They offer a different focus from the historical walks, with outdoor puzzles at their heart. This gives you a way to choose between a historical theme and a puzzle-solving format.

Local History and Culture

The Storrington and District Museum preserves artefacts and photographs relating to the past of Storrington and the surrounding area. These collections broaden the picture beyond individual walks and viewpoints: they cover both the town and its surroundings, with material ranging from objects to photographic records.

Storrington is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1068–87, compiled under William the Conqueror. This provides a medieval point of reference alongside the stories from the past 150 years celebrated by the Heritage Walk. These different time periods offer different historical perspectives as you explore local history.

St Mary’s parish church serves the whole community. There has been a church at this site for more than a thousand years; this refers to a church at this location, not to the age of the current building. Together with the Domesday Book entry and the museum’s themes, this offers a view of Storrington that takes in different aspects of its history.

Discover more destinations: Amberley, Hassocks, Partridge Green, Burgess Hill, Coldwaltham, Stedham, Slinfold, Kirdford.

For the wider travel overview: West Sussex.