Friston Forest
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Eastbourne
What it’s like
Miles of walking and cycling trails through woodland near Eastbourne, free to wander with paid parking at the two main car parks.
This is a proper stretch-your-legs forest, the trails are the whole point. Walking paths and cycling routes wind through the trees, and there's enough ground here that you can pick a short loop with a toddler in a carrier or a longer one if the kids are on bikes and want a real ride. Entry itself is free, which is rare for somewhere this size.
Parking is where the cost comes in, and it isn't nothing: Litlington Road runs from £3 for two hours up to £6 for the day, Butchershole is a touch cheaper at £2.50 to £6. Members park free. Worth knowing that toilets are only at the Litlington Road car park, so if you're parking at Butchershole and have small kids, plan your loop with that in mind.
It's open long hours in the warmer months, 8am to 8pm from March to October, dropping back to 8am-5pm over winter, so an evening walk after tea is doable in summer. Dogs are welcome off and on the paths, and there are picnic spots dotted about if you fancy bringing lunch, though BBQs are banned outright so leave the disposable grill at home.
One honest gripe: there are no designated accessible parking spaces, which is a real faff if anyone in your group needs one close to the entrance. Otherwise it's a straightforward, no-frills forest day, pack a picnic, bring the bikes if you've got them, and let the kids loose on the trails.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Litlington Road: up to 2 hours £3, up to 4 hours £5, all day £6
- Dogs
- Allowed. Assistance dogs welcome
- Toilets are only at Litlington Road car park, not Butchershole
- No designated accessible parking spaces at either car park
- Members park free, everyone else pays by the hour or a flat day rate
- BBQs are banned, so stick to a cold picnic
- Longer daylight hours March to October make evening visits easy
Plan your visit
Is it free to visit?
Yes, getting into the forest itself is free. You only pay for parking at the two main car parks.
How much is parking?
Litlington Road is £3 for up to two hours, £5 for four hours, £6 all day. Butchershole is slightly cheaper at £2.50, £3.50 and £6. Members park free.
What are the opening hours?
8am to 8pm from March to October, and 8am to 5pm from November to February.
Are there toilets?
Only at the Litlington Road car park, so bear that in mind if you're parking at Butchershole instead.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed throughout, and assistance dogs are welcome too.
Can we have a barbecue?
BBQs aren't allowed anywhere in the forest, so a picnic is the way to go instead.
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