Page content section :
Leisure and tourism in Adur
Countryside and The Downs
- Coastal Link - bridle path and cycle way
- Coombes Farm Tours
- Lancing Ring local nature reserve
- Mill Hill local nature reserve - including Mill Hill disabled access trail
- Passies Ponds
- River Adur
- RSPB Wildfowl Reserve
- Sculpture Trail
- Widewater Lagoon
For conservation enthusiasts, Adur provides a wealth of natural habitats to enthral people of all ages from bird and butterfly watchers to budding marine biologists.
Note : Please check opening times and prices before you travel to these attractions as information below may be subject to change.
See also :
- Attractions in Adur
- Beaches in Adur
- South Downs Management
- South Downs Safety Patrols
- Walks and walking
See also map of places of interest in Adur
Coastal Link and sculpture trail
If
you fancy something a little more laid back, a stroll and picnic along the
Coastal Link makes a relaxing half-day alternative to sightseeing. The Coastal
Link is an important pedestrian, bridle and cycle path, which runs along
the banks of the River Adur.
The Coastal Link joins Shoreham to the South Downs and connects with the South Downs Way and the Downs Link - two long distance bridle and cycle paths. There are many other walks, bridle and cycle paths throughout the district, which provide pleasant routes around the Downs and the River Valley.
See also our webpages on cycling and the River Adur.
For information on the Coastal Link and its extension into the South Downs please contact West Sussex County Council on (01243) 777100 or visit the WSCC website (www.westsussex.gov.uk) or
- South
Downs on-line website (www.southdownsonline.org)
or their 'what to do on the Downs' section (www.visitsouthdowns.com/rte.asp?id=38)
Sculpture Trail
The Sculpture Trail runs alongside the banks of the River Adur and forms part of the southern end of the Coastal Link.
You will also find more installations of public art further down the river on the water front walk at the Ropetackle development between the Norfolk Bridge and the railway bridge.
Coombes Farm Tours
The
Passmore family have been farming at Coombes 100 years, so come and meet
us!
Tractor tours around Coombes Farm are available from March to mid-October. The tours last for approximately 1½ hours and take place anytime in daylight hours, although visits to the lambing yard take place between 9:00am - 4:00pm. The tractor and trailer ride covers 1,000 acres of environmentally sensitive South Downs and includes a visit to a working Dew Pond, cornfields and conservation areas.
Visitors also see the farm in operation along with cows and calves, ewes and lambs. Visit during lambing time, between March and mid-April, and see the lambs being born.
There are also Summer Holiday Specials on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 2.30pm. The tour can cater for visitors with disabilities but it is necessary to call first.
Toilets and light refreshments are also available.
For more information and current admission fees, please contact :
- Jenny Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes, Lancing,
West Sussex 6N15 ORS. Tel : (01273) 452028
e-mail : berty@churchfarm.fsworld.co.uk
Visit the Coombes Farm website (www.coombes.co.uk)
Mill
Hill and Lancing Ring local nature reserves
Adur is fortunate to have a wealth of exceptional countryside open to the public.
Two such sites, Lancing Ring (see photo right) and Mill Hill (see photos below) are local nature reserves, both are owned by Adur District Council and Mill Hill is managed with the Sussex Downs Conservation Board. Both sites are important for their chalk grassland, a rare and diverse habitat. Today only three percent of the original chalk grassland remains.
It is difficult to maintain the grassland to prevent it from overgrowing with scrub when it is not grazed. If the scrub takes over, we will lose many of the indigenous flowers and insects that inhabit the chalk grassland. The conservation board plan to graze the sites with animals for a few weeks during the winter to prevent the loss of grassland.
Mill
Hill (see photo right) is famous for its
outstanding views across the Adur Valley. In spring and summer the hill
is bursting with wild flowers and butterflies, including the rare Adonis
Blue butterfly.
Mill
Hill - Disabled access trail
Mill Hill has a 500-metre easy access trail, which enables less mobile people
to enjoy this site.
There are no steps or steep gradients on the trail and benches are located every 150 metres to provide plenty of resting places.
The trail was made possible with the help of Adur District Council (who own the site), the Countryside Agency, and the Sussex branch of the Ramblers Association who helped to fund the trail as part of their silver jubilee celebrations.
If you would like to find out more about local nature reserves, chalk grassland or grazing please refer to :
- Andy Gattiker on (01273) 625242 or visit the
South Downs on-line website (www.southdownsonline.org)
or their what to do on the Downs section (www.visitsouthdowns.com/rte.asp?id=38) - Lancing Ring Local Nature Reserve (www.lancing-nature.bn15.net/folr/index.htm)
- Countryside Agency (www.countryside.gov.uk)
- The Ramblers Association (www.ramblers.org.uk)
See also : Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve
Passies Ponds
The
Passies Ponds fishing lakes at Coombes farm offer coarse fishing to people
of all ages and abilities; parts of which are even accessible to visitors
with disabilities.
It has been appointed a centre of excellence for juniors and is available for both groups and clubs as well as keen individuals.
Day tickets can be purchased. The lakes are open from dawn till dusk all year round along with a shop, snack bar and toilets.
For more details, current prices and information about special events or any current restrictions on opening times please either :
- See the Coombes
Farm website (www.coombes.co.uk)
or contact : Trevor Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes, Lancing, West Sussex
BN15 0RS. Tel (01273) 465257 e-mail : passie@btconnect.com
See also : River Adur and fishing
RSPB Wildfowl Reserve
In
the centre of the district, below Norfolk Bridge, is an RSPB managed wildfowl
reserve, which consists of tidal mud flats. It has been designated a Site
of Significant Scientific Interest and is a key site for birdwatchers and
environmental preservation.
For further information contact the RSPB local office on :
- (01273) 763600 or visit their websites at :
RSPB website (www.rspb.org.uk) or
RSPB images website (www.rspb-images.com) or
RSPB : Adur Estuary (www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/adurestuary/index.asp)
See also :
Widewater
Lagoon
To the north-west of Shoreham Beach is an area of brackish water landlocked by a man-made shingle bank.
It is home to herons, swans and many other wildfowl.
See also :
