South Downs Society

Making the most of Crow Open Access in the South Downs

Orchids, rare butterflies and peace and quiet abound on the areas of access land in the South Downs. Go for a walk and find them yourself, with the help of a new series of downloadable maps.

Many of the open access areas established in the South Downs under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act (known as the CROW Act) are of little use to walkers, being small, fragmented, and sometimes completely cut off from adjacent rights of way and therefore inaccessible. Other areas are larger, offering much better opportunities for ‘through’ walkers. These opportunities are not always obvious from the OS Explorer Maps which, although showing all areas where open access is permitted, give no indication of access points either into or within the parcels of access land.

The South Downs Society, in conjunction with the South Downs Local Access Forum and the South Downs Joint Committee have carried out detailed surveys of seven of the more ‘useful’ access areas and prepared annotated versions of the 1:25,000 maps showing access points, and some of the most practicable and easily usable ‘through’ routes.

Also included are notes on any special features which enhance the amenity of the chosen areas.

The South Downs Society believes it is important to increase the extent of access land in the South Downs, and the number of gaps, gates and stiles, and pathways, to enable everyone to enjoy the Downs to the full. Would you like to see access improved on a particular site? If so, please let the Society know.