14 great picnic spots in West Sussex for families wanting to get out into the countryside this summer

Take the kids out, meet up with friends and family and just enjoy a chance to get away from it all. Whether the warm weather continues or a bit of rain comes in, summer is the perfect time to soak up the joys of the great outdoors.

We have come up with 14 great picnic spots you may not have thought of, places you may never have been before. Most are readily accessible by public transport.

Highdown Hill – Head up to Highdown Hill in Worthing for a run around and maybe add in a visit to Highdown Gardens.

Swanbourne Lake – Enjoy a walk around Swanbourne Lake in Arundel and do a bit of bird spotting. Relax in the café or grab an ice-cream.

Hiorne Tower – Venture on to the Arundel Estate to see the Hiorne Tower and enjoy some lovely views from the top of the hill.

Cissbury Ring – Pack a picnic and head up to Cissbury Ring for a run round the ring or an exploration of the many paths inside it. Look out for the New Forest ponies and enjoy the views.

Ferring Rife – Take a trip to Ferring and visit the beach or walk along the banks of Ferring Rife, enjoying the wildlife and the views. Ferring Country Centre has a farm to visit and a restaurant.

Bramber Castle – Take a picnic to Bramber Castle. The one surviving wall of the tower stands proud and a climb to the top of the motte affords stunning views. It is worth taking time to explore this magical place and seeing what is left of the fortifications.

River Adur – Take a walk along the River Adur, either at Shoreham or Bramber. Enjoy the lovely views and look out for lots of different birds.

The Windmill Trail – Take a circular walk to Halnaker Windmill and Boxgrove Priory to see a magical tunnel of trees. The far-reaching views from the top of the hill are incredible and there are Second World War military structures to investigate.

Sandgate Park – This country park in Storrington is a haven for wildlife and there is a lot to explore. Follow the path through the woods and heath to find what are known as fairy bridges, sit by the lake or walk through the grass and enjoy the views.

Sleepy Hollow – Warren Hill, known to many locally as Sleepy Hollow, has a mix of National Trust woodland, broad paths, grassy glades and heath. Great for running round and a place well known for bivouacking.

Sullington Warren – Walk through wonderful woodland at Sullington Warren. Walks here offer lovely views and if you explore the woods, you might find a face in a tree!

The River Stor – Walk along the banks of the River Stor in Storrington and if you are lucky, you will spot an amazing tree that looks just like a dragon! There are woods to explore, bridges, waterfalls and some lovely views.

Nore Hill Folly – Head into the woods on the Slindon Estate and discover the Nore Hill Folly, an imposing Italian arch that looks like a grand entrance to a tunnel, perhaps, or a gateway to a castle.

Brighton and Hove Way – Take a stroll from Brighton Palace Pier to Saltdean Lido. The Zip zipwire, Pirate Crazy Golf and Volk's Electric Railway are en route and all along the walk, there are amazing scenes.