NETTLE FIELDS
Things to do in the area
West Sussex is a sophisticated playground, full of beautiful vistas, stunning country mansions, vineyards and gourmet restaurants, as well as offering the simple life: walks galore and comfortable traditional pubs with local ales. All within a short distance of the Nettle Fields Airbnb.
Walking & cycling
image by kevin wolf on unsplash
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Nettle Fields is an ideal starting point for long or short walks - we can provide maps and suggestions.
Among the many options for cycling is the Downs Link:
Cycling the Downs Link | Easy Cycling in Sussexhttps://discoversussex.org › Cycle Routes in Sussex
Restaurants & pubs
“Trenchmore Farm Shop” (a lovely 20 minute walk, Trenchmore Farm is easily reached via the footpath through Newells Rough): a charming farm shop with seating outside surrounded by stables and cows, selling its own excellent award-winning Silly Moo cider, as well as other local produce: https://www.trenchmore.co.uk
Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/qvncYNzyvk4qqm297
”Crabtree pub” (approx. 25 minutes' walk in Crabtree, Lower Beeding): excellent food in this pub restaurant. Beautiful fireplace in winter (ask to be seated next to bar if you like fire places). 
https://www.crabtreesussex.co.uk/
Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/YHHQ9ham3c9NjLc48
“Black Horse pub” (approx. 20 minutes’ walk in Nuthurst): a lovely traditional ambience by the fire with a good selection of drinks and typical pub food.
http://www.theblackhorseinn.com/
Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/3kStFiFPpxbB81VP7
“White Horse pub” (approx. 25 minutes’ walk in Maplehurst): a very ‘local’ pub with local beers. For over 30 years in the Good Beer Guide.
http://www.whitehorsemaplehurst.co.uk/
Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/F16P1xCjJTcfmdwo9
“South Lodge Hotel” (approx. 25 minutes’ walk (5 minute drive): a 5-star hotel which offers lovely afternoon teas; and two restaurants: “Camellia” and the haute cuisine “The Pass”.
https://www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/
Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/vCaw971oAWHz7Ri29
“Botanica” – at the Spa of South Lodge Hotel: a newish restaurant in the new spa, offering a healthy Mediterranean-inspired menu (good for vegans, too) in a beautiful setting with floor to ceiling windows to a beautiful view of the South Downs. There is also a large balcony terrace which is open in summer. The bar serves Sussex Ridgeview sparkling wine.
https://www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/restaurants-bars/botanica/
“Interlude restaurant” (approximately 30 minutes’ walk or 5 minutes’ drive): opened in 2019, Leonardslee Gardens' “Interlude” is a fine-dining restaurant with a 16-course tasting menu and a wonderful wine menu. Spectacular Michelin-starred experience for gourmets.
https://www.restaurant-interlude.co.uk/
"Leonardslee House” is the main part of Leonardslee Gardens and it offers a great afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings.
https://www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/mansion-tea-parlour/
“Benguela brasserie” at Mannings Heath Hotel (best reached by car): wonderful food and wine owned by Penny Streeter who also owns Leonardslee Gardens (the wines are partly from Penny Streeter’s vineyard in South Africa, with a delicious sparkling wine on offer). 
https://www.manningsheath.com/wine-dine/
“Red Lion” (approx. 10 minutes’ drive in Handcross): a large charming pub with good food and drink – and offers the option of a vegan menu.
https://www.redlionhandcross.co.uk/
“The Pig” – a bit further afield but worth the half-hour drive, this is a pub with excellent food and wine in Madehurst near Arundel, using ingredients almost entirely from the South Downs area, including some suppliers from our village.
https://www.thepighotel.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=GMB-pig-south-downs
“Chalk” – ca. 20-25 minutes’ drive, this restaurant is set in the Wiston wine estate and serves food with locally sourced ingredients:
Pubs & restaurants - Horsham town (10 minutes by car) has typical town-centre restaurants, such as pizzerias etc. Particularly nice are the following: 
“Akash” Indian: a simple Indian restaurant with good Indian food. Take away possible (but no delivery).
https://akashrestaurant.co.uk/
“Bills”: a modern British market restaurant in a beautiful old market building.
https://bills-website.co.uk/restaurants/horsham
"Giggling Squid”: a great Thai restaurant.  
https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/horsham/
“Lemongrass”: another decent Thai. 
“Tristan”: a one-Michelin-star restaurant which is amazing for lunch or dinner (need to book some time in advance). 
http://www.restauranttristan.co.uk/
“Everyman Horsham”: a stylish bar and diner with outdoor terrace which forms part of the Everyman Cinema (comfortable sofa seating).
Things to do and places to go
image of Petworth by andrew newton on unsplash
"Leonardslee Gardens": Re-opened in April 2019 after years of closure, said to be the finest woodland gardens in England, it is located only a short walk away (ca. 30 minutes – or 5 minutes by car), with a colony of wallabies introduced in 1889. First planted in 1801, the Grade I Listed gardens on the 240 acre estate feature an outstanding scenery throughout the year and particularly majestic as it blooms in spring or takes on the glorious colours of autumn.
https://www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/
See also in our restaurant recommendations: ‘Interlude’ restaurant and ‘Leonardslee House’ afternoon tea
"Nymans" (National Trust): Ca. 10 minutes’ drive to Handcross. A beautiful garden with a ruin and an interesting history and links to Princess Margaret’s former husband Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was the nephew of the designer Oliver Messel. The Queen Mother was a frequent visitor.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans
Handcross, West Sussex, RH17 6EB
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"Petworth House & Gardens" (National Trust): Ca. 35 minutes’ drive. A beautiful deer park and a historic house with the largest collection of Turner paintings outside Tate Britain.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house-and-park
Petworth House and Park, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 9LR
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Sheffield Park (National Trust): Ca. 35 minutes’ drive. A gorgeous park with lakes and the best autumn colours imaginable.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QX
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Wakehurst (National Trust): Ca. 30 minutes’ drive. A beautiful park with a famous seedbank.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wakehurst
Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN
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"Bolney Wine Estate" (only 5 miles away): Guided tours of a beautiful vineyard and tasting sessions.
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"Wiston Wine Estate" (in Findon, near Worthing, ca. 20 minutes’ drive): a charming wine estate with restaurant “ Chalk” https://www.wistonestate.com
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"Ridgeview Wine Estate" (in Ditchling Common, ca. 30 minutes’ drive): one of England’s best wineries – with our favourite Fitzrovia sparkling rosé:
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"Nyetimber Wine Estate" (in West Chiltington, ca. 40 minutes’ drive): another of England’s fine wines.
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