There’s something about autumn that makes us want to pull on a pair of walking boots, grab a warm drink and head outside.
The cooler days, changing leaves and that unmistakable crunch underfoot make this one of our favourite times of year to explore Bognor Regis and the beautiful countryside surrounding us.
You don’t need to travel far either. From parks and nature reserves right on our doorstep to woodland walks across the South Downs, there are plenty of places to see autumn doing its thing.
So, grab your coat and choose your next autumn wander.
Start Close to Home at Hotham Park
We know, we talk about Hotham Park a lot. But can you blame us?
Watching the park change with the seasons is one of our favourite things to do in Bognor Regis, and autumn might just be when it looks its best.
Grab a warm drink from Hotham Park Café and weave your way beneath the canopy of trees as the greens gradually give way to shades of yellow, orange and gold.
You don’t need a route or a destination. Take your time, follow whichever path takes your fancy and enjoy seeing one of Bognor Regis’ best-loved green spaces in a completely different light.
Discover a wilder side of Bognor Regis at Bersted Brooks
For something a little wilder without travelling far from town, head to Bersted Brooks.
This green space offers a change of scenery from the seafront and town centre, with footpaths taking you through a landscape of grassland, waterways and established trees.
Autumn is a lovely time to slow down and notice the smaller seasonal changes happening around you, so take your time and keep an eye out for wildlife along the way.
Just remember that autumn weather and countryside paths can be a muddy combination, so sensible footwear is always a good idea.
Explore Pagham Harbour
A little further along the coast, RSPB Pagham Harbour offers a completely different kind of autumn walk.
The reserve is made up of saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons, farmland, reedbeds and shingle beach, with several trails allowing you to explore different parts of the landscape. It’s also an internationally important wetland for wildlife, making this one for anyone who likes a little birdwatching with their walk.
There are shorter options too, including a level 0.75-mile loop, while longer trails and public rights of way give you plenty of scope to keep exploring.
Bring your binoculars, wrap up warm and enjoy one of the most peaceful stretches of our local coastline.
Walk from Felpham Towards Barnham
If you’d rather make the journey part of the adventure, head out from Felpham and explore the footpaths leading inland towards Barnham and the surrounding countryside.
Leaving the coastline behind gives you a chance to see another side of the area, with a more rural landscape appearing as you head away from Bognor Regis.
Choose a route that suits how far you fancy walking, check the public footpaths before setting off and make sure you’re prepared for muddy sections after wet weather.
It’s a good option when you fancy stretching your legs a little further without turning your autumn walk into a full day trip.
Head a little further
Wander through the Slindon Estate
For proper woodland-in-autumn energy, Slindon is difficult to beat.
The National Trust’s Slindon Estate covers around 3,500 acres of woodland, farmland, downland and village, with more than 25 miles of public rights of way to explore.
You can opt for a gentle 1.8-mile wander through the medieval deer park and village or tackle one of the longer routes through the estate. In autumn, Park Wood puts on a particularly lovely display of seasonal colour.
It’s close enough to Bognor Regis for an easy morning out, but once you’re among the woodland and downland it can feel much further from home.
Take a lap of Swanbourne Lake
Just outside the centre of Arundel, Swanbourne Lake is an easy one to combine with a day exploring the town.
The walk from Arundel takes you towards the lake before looping around the water, with a largely flat and easy route that is suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.
Surrounded by trees, it’s particularly lovely as the leaves begin to turn, and the combination of woodland and water makes it a great choice when you want a gentler autumn stroll rather than a serious hike.
Once you’re finished, wander back into Arundel for a coffee, lunch and a browse around the independents.
Climb through ancient woodland at Kingley Vale
If your idea of an autumn walk involves a little more adventure, head towards Kingley Vale.
Known for its ancient yew woodland and sweeping views across the surrounding countryside, this is one to save for a crisp, clear autumn day.
There are routes of varying lengths around the reserve, but expect more of a climb than some of the gentler walks on this list.
Take your time, enjoy the woodland and make the views your reward for reaching the top.
Make a day of it
Walk among ancient trees at Petworth Park
If you’re happy to venture a little further from Bognor Regis, Petworth Park gives you 700 acres of historic parkland to explore, complete with ancient trees, far-reaching views and its resident herd of fallow deer.
There are several walking routes to choose from. The four-mile Ancient Trees Walk is particularly fitting for autumn, taking you past some of the park’s oldest beeches, limes and oaks, while the three-to-four-mile Capability Brown route explores more of the wider parkland.
October also coincides with the annual deer rut, so give the deer plenty of space and follow any guidance in place during your visit.
See autumn reflected at Sheffield Park
If changing leaves are the entire reason for your walk, Sheffield Park and Garden deserves a place on the list.
In fact, the National Trust describes autumn as the season the garden was planted for. Its collection includes 25 species of acers, alongside Nyssa and Taxodium trees, creating shades ranging from lime green through to vivid reds as the season develops.
Four lakes sit at the heart of the garden, meaning all that autumn colour is reflected across the water too.
The exact timing of peak colour depends on the weather, but the display can begin from mid-September and continue into November, with the second half of October often particularly impressive.
This one is a little further from Bognor Regis, but if you really love autumn colour, it’s worth making a day of it.
Immerse yourself in autumn at Winkworth Arboretum
And finally, for a full autumn day out, there’s Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey.
This is the furthest journey on our list, but autumn is exactly when Winkworth comes into its own. The woodland transforms into shades of gold, amber and crimson, and it’s one of the National Trust’s most popular places to visit during the season.
There are three waymarked routes to choose from, starting with an approximately 1km step-free Upper Arboretum route and building up to a more challenging 3.7km walk with steep slopes.
If your camera roll is usually full of autumn leaves by October, this one has your name written all over it.
Make the most of autumn
You don’t have to travel miles to enjoy the best of autumn.
Start with a coffee and a wander around Hotham Park, discover somewhere closer to home that you’ve never explored before or use Bognor Regis as your starting point for an autumn day out across Sussex and beyond.
Wherever you choose, check the weather, pull on some walking boots and take your time.
After all, those autumn colours don’t stick around forever.
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