Fernhurst

Fernhurst makes a quiet, well-placed base for exploring the northern reaches of the South Downs National Park, with the market towns of Haslemere and Midhurst both within easy striking distance and Blackdown, the highest point in Sussex, rising right on the village's edge. Rather than large hotel chains, visitors tend to find character here: pubs with rooms in timber-framed buildings, bed and breakfasts run out of period cottages, and a handful of country house hotels scattered through the surrounding Wealden countryside. Many properties trade on exactly the setting that draws people to Fernhurst in the first place, with gardens backing onto farmland, woodland walks starting from the doorstep, and views towards Blackdown or the Downs beyond.

For a wider choice of hotel rooms, spa facilities or larger conference-style venues, Haslemere and Midhurst both offer more options a short drive away, while still keeping Fernhurst's walking country within easy reach for a day out. Cottage and self-catering lets are common in and around the village too, appealing to families or walking groups wanting a base for several days of exploring Blackdown, Marley Common and the wider South Downs. Whichever type of stay suits best, Fernhurst's position just off the A286 between Haslemere and Midhurst means everything from the coast at Chichester to the Surrey Hills is within comfortable day-trip range, without ever feeling like you've left the quiet of the Weald behind.

Fernhurst's setting inside the South Downs National Park means outstanding walking is on the doorstep, alongside a scattering of historic houses, gardens and market towns nearby.

• Blackdown — the highest point in Sussex at 280 metres, owned by the National Trust since 1944, with sweeping views across the Weald to the Devil's Dyke and, on a clear day, as far as Lewes.
• Marley Common — a National Trust heathland and woodland site acquired in 1911, grazed by Belted Galloway cattle and criss-crossed with paths for a shorter, gentler walk than Blackdown.
• St Margaret's Church — the 13th-century parish church around which the village first grew, with later additions spanning several centuries of Fernhurst history.
• Verdley Wood and Fernhurst's footpath network — a web of ancient Wealden woodland and field paths linking the village to Blackdown, Marley Common and neighbouring hamlets.
• Haslemere — a handsome Surrey market town just under three miles north, with independent shops, the Haslemere Museum and its own pocket of Georgian architecture.
• Midhurst — a historic market town about five miles south, home to the ruins of Cowdray House and within easy reach of Cowdray Park polo ground.
• South Downs National Park — Fernhurst sits inside the park boundary, giving direct access to a protected landscape of chalk downland, heath and ancient woodland stretching across Hampshire and Sussex.

The Red Lion, dating from 1592 and overlooking the village green, is Fernhurst's best-known pub, serving home-cooked classics, Sunday roasts and regular themed nights beneath its low timbered ceiling and inglenook fireplace. The King's Arms offers a second traditional option a short distance away, and the wider choice of restaurants, cafes and independent food shops in nearby Haslemere and Midhurst is easily reached for an evening out or a market-day browse.

Fernhurst sits inside the South Downs National Park at the foot of Blackdown, the highest point in Sussex, and the surrounding landscape of heath, ancient woodland and rolling farmland makes it an appealing spot for a camping trip, provided you stick to recognised sites. Wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, including within the South Downs National Park, so pitching up on Blackdown, Marley Common or any other open access land here requires prior arrangement rather than simply finding a quiet corner for the night. Fortunately the wider area around Haslemere and Midhurst has a good spread of licensed campsites, from simple farm fields to more developed touring parks with facilities for tents, campervans and caravans.

The terrain around Fernhurst is classic Weald and Downs: sandy heathland underfoot on Blackdown and Marley Common, giving way to heavier clay soils and dense woodland lower down, so a pitch with decent drainage is worth seeking out if rain is forecast. The best camping season generally runs from late spring through to early autumn, when the heather on Blackdown's open heath is at its best in August and the surrounding beech and oak woodlands stay dry underfoot for walking back to camp after dark. Midsummer evenings are long enough to fit in a full circuit of Blackdown or Marley Common after pitching up, while a shoulder-season trip in May or September usually brings quieter sites and cooler nights for sleeping.

For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping has taken hold across this part of Sussex and Surrey, with bell tents, shepherd's huts and safari-style lodges available on farms and small sites within a short drive of Fernhurst. These tend to suit visitors who want the woodland setting and dark skies of the Weald without the full commitment of pitching a tent, and many include their own fire pits or wood-burners for cooler evenings. Whichever style of camping is chosen, Fernhurst's location just off the A286 puts Blackdown, Marley Common, Haslemere and Midhurst all within easy reach, making it a practical base for a few days exploring this corner of the South Downs.