South Downs

A view over the sloping purple heather at Black Down towards the distant horizon, with tall pine trees to either side.

Wild coast, stunning wildlife, remarkable history - enjoy the top spots in Britain's newest National Park.

Places to visit

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A young girl enjoying the autumn leaves dressed as a witch for Halloween

October half-term and Halloween on the South Downs 

Hallowe’en will be in full swing at our special places in the South Downs this October half-term with the spooky science laboratory at Petworth, plus plenty of autumn leaves to crunch through at Slindon and Uppark.

Find your spooky day out

Enjoying autumn on the South Downs

A misty view across the hills and valleys of the Sussex Downs at dawn from Ditchling Beacon, showing scattered trees and hedges with the sun rising in the distance

Autumn colour in the South Downs  

Enjoy a walk in a gentle landscape of autumn colour in parks and gardens across the South Downs. From Petworth Park to Alfriston Clergy House, find your favourite shade of bronze, gold and red this season.

Art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor and social historian Emma Dabiri in the Marble Hall of Petworth House

Petworth portrait confirmed as a Titian in BBC Four's Britain's Lost Masterpieces 

Petworth has a third painting by the Italian artist Titian thanks to an episode of Britain's Lost Masterpieces. Take a look how presenters Bendor Grosvenor and Emma Dabiri reached the decision following x-ray and infrared techniques.

Petworth House and Park deer

Autumn walks in and around the South Downs  

This autumn, use our easy to follow downloadable walks to discover the very best seasonal colour on our South Downs walks.

Dog walking on a lead
Walking trail 

Taking the lead on the South Downs

The South Downs are a great place to walk your dog, so there's always somewhere near to you where you can enjoy this rich countryside throughout the year.

Walkies this way

Deer days out

A herd of fallow deer graze on the grassland at Harting Down

Deer rut walk at Harting Down 

Join us on an atmospheric wildlife walk as we follow deer trails on Harting Down, looking for signs of the deer rut. This walk explains those bellowing calls from the woods; and is of some four miles or more and off the main paths, beginning and ending at the car park; as we enter the kingdom of the deer in peak mating season.

Autumn colour and deer in the parkland at Petworth

The deer rut at Petworth House and Park 

With a herd of over 900 fallow dear roaming the 700 acre park you may see this autumn spectacle as the young bucks battle for a mate during the rutting season.

A dormouse found on a survey at Swan Barn Farm

Autumn wildlife on the South Downs 

Autumn is a wonderful time to discover the abundance of wildlife that can be found across the South Downs. From dormice to damsons, sloes to sweet chestnuts, the autumn harvest is there for anyone who cares to take a wander.

Discover an autumn bounty on the South Downs

Women and Power

A portrait of Elizabeth Ilive

Elizabeth Ilive - A Woman Ahead of Her Time 

Open from 5 May, discover more about Elizabeth Ilive who lived at Petworth House from the late 1780s in this interactive exhibition, part of the National Trust Women and Power programme. Explore her intellectual pursuits from fine art, invention and science and delve in to a re-imagining of the laboratory she established at Petworth.

Virginia Woolf's writing desk at Monk's House

A Room of One's Own 

Become apart of our Virginia Woolf installation and send an image showing ‘A Room of Your Own’

How you can help us

Volunteering

Supporting our Rangers 

We have hundreds of volunteers helping out at our countryside sites across the South Downs. Learn more about the essential work they carry our and how you can get involved.

Group visit in great hall at Charlecote Park

Join a supporter group on the South Downs 

Interested in making the most of the National Trust near you? Join your local supporter group to enjoy a range of fun activities and ways of helping your local properties.

Uppark at dawn

Helping out in our houses and gardens 

We could not do without the committed and enthusiastic volunteers at our houses and gardens. Find out more about you can join

Our houses and gardens on the South Downs

The dolls' house at Uppark, West Sussex
North Gallery at Petworth House
Picture of the South Drawing room at Hinton Ampner
The pale green sitting room at Monk's House
The sundial in the parterre garden at Woolbeding Gardens, West Sussex.
The lovely poppies in the vegetable garden at Alfriston Clergy House

Things to see and do at Uppark House and Garden 

There's plenty to discover around our 18th-century house and gardens. Stretch your legs out in the woodland, marvel at our famous doll's house and potter in the gardens.

The state rooms of Petworth House 

With a history stretching from the 12th century, find out more about the staterooms of Petworth House open to visit and the extraordinary collection of art on display.

Discover the house at Hinton Ampner 

Ralph Dutton had a particular appreciation of Georgian architecture and furnishings, and the Hinton Ampner of today is a showcase for his work in rebuilding after the devastating fire of 1960.

Things to see and do at Monk's House 

Visit the house once inhabited by novelist Virginia Woolf and wander through her home as it was once and explore the cottage garden. Last chance to visit before we close for the season on 28 Oct 2018.

Things to see and do at Woolbeding Gardens 

Wander around the 26 acres of gardens and stumble upon follies, explore different garden rooms and relax on lawns.

House and Garden at Alfriston Clergy House 

Discover why Alfriston Clergy House was the first house to be owned by the National Trust. Explore the house and stunning cottage garden which Octavia Hill was determined to preserve for future generations.