Patching

Patching itself has no hotels, but its position on the southern edge of the South Downs National Park, just off the A27, makes it a convenient base within easy reach of a wider range of accommodation. Worthing, a few miles south on the coast, offers seafront hotels and guesthouses along with the usual chain options near the town centre. Arundel, roughly four miles west, has a good choice of characterful inns and boutique hotels close to its castle and cathedral, while smaller villages such as Angmering and Findon have country pubs with rooms and bed and breakfasts tucked into the downland lanes. For anyone wanting to walk the South Downs Way or explore Highdown Hill and the Angmering Park Estate, staying in or around one of these nearby towns gives easy access to Patching's footpaths while still being close to shops, restaurants and the railway line along the coast. Booking ahead is worthwhile in summer, when the coast and downland villages are busiest with walkers and holidaymakers.

Patching's appeal is less about the village itself and more about what surrounds it: some of the finest downland walking in West Sussex, historic sites, and easy access to the coast.

• Highdown Hill — a chalk hill just south of the village near Ferring and Worthing, topped by an Iron Age hill fort and the site of one of the largest known Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in England, with around 86 burials uncovered here.
• South Downs Way walking — the Patching and Angmering Park Estate circular is a popular local route through beech woodland and open downland, with far-reaching views towards the coast.
• Arundel — the historic market town with its castle and cathedral is only around four miles west, an easy trip for a day out.
• Worthing seafront — a short drive south brings you to Worthing's beach, pier and promenade.
• Angmering Park Estate — a large area of private parkland and woodland bordering Patching, threaded with public footpaths and bridleways popular with walkers and riders.

The village is home to The Fox at Patching, a country pub and restaurant just off the A27 with large beer gardens and a children's play area, popular with walkers coming off the Downs. Beyond that, the wider choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants in nearby Arundel and Worthing is only a short drive away.

The South Downs around Patching offer some rewarding but rugged terrain for campers, with chalk grassland, beech hangers and steep-sided coombes rising straight from the village. As with everywhere else in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal, so anyone hoping to pitch a tent near Patching needs to use a licensed campsite or seek express permission first. The Angmering Park Estate and the wider South Downs National Park are farmed and privately owned in large part, and casual camping on this land is not permitted.

For a legitimate stay under canvas, the nearest campsites and caravan parks are found around Arundel, Angmering and further along the coast towards Littlehampton and Worthing, many offering pitches for tents, campervans and touring caravans within easy striking distance of the downland walks that start near Patching. Glamping has also grown steadily in this part of West Sussex, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and yurts available at a number of small sites in the surrounding villages, offering a more comfortable alternative for those who want the downland scenery without the full rigours of traditional camping.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the chalk downland is driest underfoot and the long summer evenings suit walks up to Highdown Hill or along the South Downs Way. Even in good weather, the exposed high ground can turn breezy and cool after dark, so it is worth packing for a proper drop in temperature overnight. Outside these months, the clay-based lower ground around Patching can become heavy and wet, and many local sites reduce their opening or close altogether over winter.