Sussex Walks: Roosthole and St Leonards Forest.

parking | dogs - off lead | walk duration - flexible

On a cold and sunny Spring Sunday Monty and I descended into a woodland where we found a trickling stream creating dancing diamonds in the streams of sunlight that had found their way through the many treetops of Roosthole.

Roosthole is near Horsham, mid Sussex and is the starting point for a magical walk into St Leonards Forest, named so as myth has it that a 6th century French hermit named St Leonard stayed a dragon in this very forest. It certainly has a historic and mystical air.

The clear paths of St Leonards get busy with walkers, cyclists and horse riders but veer off the paths onto one of the many public footpaths that delve deeper into the forest and who knows what you’ll find? A great foraging spot as well as a place to get lost with your thoughts. It’s likely you’ll see a deer should you go at the right time of year. This isn’t a place to be formulaic. This is a place to get lost, follow your nose and not worry about time for half a day. Hence the reason I’m not giving you a route today but instead sharing more of a photo story and hoping you’ll be inspired to find your own magic in this gorgeous place. Enjoy and make sure you have no deadlines for the day.