'Beautiful' walk 1 hour from Surrey has castles, charming towns, and idyllic countryside

One of the South of England's most 'beautiful' walks has been named as a route through a town an hour from Surrey that has castle views and loops through the countryside

A charming walk just an hour from Surrey has everything from castle views to sprawling countryside. We could all do with getting more fresh air while the summer is still here, and if you're interested in exploring the areas around Surrey for a day out, then this picturesque route through a town and its nearby castle could be just what you're looking for.

The location was shared on social media by a travel creator named Jess Glynn, who described it as the "prettiest walk in Sussex" that she claims she stumbled upon by "accident". She said the walk takes you through a delightful town with plenty of places to stop for something to eat, as well as through castle grounds and even into the countryside.

The walk is the Arundel and Arundel Castle Circular, which is a 6.4km circular route through the market town of Arundel in West Sussex. The route includes the medieval castle that overlooks the town, as well as some of the South Downs.

In her Instagram video, Jess explained: "This is one of the most beautiful walks I have ever done in England. This is the lovely little town of Arundel, which is home to the incredible medieval Arundel Castle.

"Today, I went for a walk around the castle walls and into the countryside of the South Downs, and it was absolutely stunning. After the village, you're going to make a turn into Arundel Park, which was originally an 18th-century medieval hunting ground."

Jess went on to show off the stunning countryside views of rolling hills as far as the eye can see. She also said there is a place to stop for ice cream and a drink around halfway along the route, and after a small section of road walking, there's a pub.

Filming herself during her walk, she added: "I'm on the final stretch, I can see Arundel Castle in the distance. We're almost there. I have to say, this walk has been gorgeous."

However, Jess did note the walk has "lots of different terrain" that makes it unsuitable for wheelchairs and prams in some places. Walking through the town of Arundel itself, as well as the castle, should be accessible, but some parts of the South Downs section of the walk are not.

Commenters on Jess' video were quick to show their appreciation for Arundel. Many who live nearby agreed it's a beautiful place to go for a walk, while others said they would love to visit one day.

One person said: "One of my favourite places in the world."

Another added: "Arundel is beautiful, from the castle to the high street to the local park and green spaces."

A third posted: "I used to live there, I miss the place."

You can walk around the walls of Arundel Castle for free, but you must pay to walk through the castle gardens and to enter the castle itself. Just the gardens by themselves cost £17 for adults and £8 for children, while adding the castle and the gardens together costs £29 for adults and £13 for children.

Arundel Castle also has a claim to fame as a filming location for several Hollywood films. In 2009, it was used to shoot some scenes for The Young Victoria, and in 2017, it was used as a spot for the DC hit Wonder Woman.