Public footpaths
There are four long public footpaths (Public Rights of Way) that run through the Lower House Farm Estate – one even dates to the 1700s. The Braithwaite family feels privileged to share parts of this beautiful place with walkers who enjoy a stroll along the lane and through the woods, particularly in spring when the woods are covered in bluebells.
You can find details of the public footpaths on the West Sussex County Council website here.
Public footpath 2041 that runs along the main farm drive from Ropes Lane is our main vehicle access to the farm, so please take care when walking along this footpath. It also passes close to the main farm buildings, livery yard and paddocks, so please be mindful as we are a working farm and we would be grateful if dogs can be kept on leads while walking near the farm buildings and paddocks.
Where you can walk
Enjoy what's public, respect what's private
For your safety, it is important that you keep to the signposted public footpaths: several areas of the farm are placed in Government environmental and conservation schemes; as a working farm we use fertilisers and pesticides; we use large and heavy machinery on the fields and in the woods; we do control the invasive and non-native deer population in our woods to maintain habitats for native plants and animals; and we have private bridleways that are reserved for our DIY liveries to ride their horses without fear of potentially dangerous encounters.
If you encounter an obstruction on any of the public footpaths on the estate (fallen branch etc), please contact sharon@lowerhousefarm.org asap so we can arrange for it to be removed. Please note that maintenance of the surfaces of the public footpaths is the responsibility of West Sussex County Council.
There is no parking on the estate for members of the public wishing to walk here.
No cycling
All the public footpaths on the estate are legally designated for pedestrian use only and it is unlawful for cyclists to use them without the express permission of the landowner. For the safety of all walkers and runners using the footpaths on the estate, we do not give permission for cyclists to use the four public footpaths (Public Rights of Way) that run through the Lower House Farm Estate.
Help us protect the environment
Leave no trace
To preserve the beauty and natural environment of this area, please ensure you carry out everything you carry in. This includes all food waste, packaging, and pet waste. Our goal is for the site to look as if you were never here.
Keep dogs under control
For the safety of your pet, local wildlife, and other visitors, dogs must be kept on a lead or remain closely under your supervision at all times. This prevents distress to livestock and protects sensitive habitats.
Avoid damage and disturbance
We ask all visitors to respect the natural surroundings, historical features, and the tranquility of the area. Please refrain from picking plants, carving trees, or causing undue noise that may disturb local residents or wildlife.
Keep to designated paths
Help us protect delicate plant life and prevent erosion by remaining on marked public footpaths and trails. Straying from the paths can damage habitats and may lead you onto private land.
Find out more about the countryside code here.
Permissive walking
For our neighbours permanently residing within the Fernhurst Parish, we will soon offer additional permissive walking route via our "Friends of Lower House Farm" initiative.
This is a special, trust-based scheme that grants temporary access to some of the private woodland on our working estate, allowing more people to discover the special peace and nature found beyond the public rights of way.
It’s an exclusive opportunity to enjoy tranquil walks and give your dogs additional, beautiful routes to explore.
By becoming a Friend, you join us in a shared responsibility to respect this private environment, ensuring this wonderful trial initiative can thrive for the benefit of all.
To find out more, click the link below.
Permissive walking
For our neighbours permanently residing within the Fernhurst Parish, we will soon offer additional permissive walking route via our "Friends of Lower House Farm" initiative.
This is a special, trust-based scheme that grants temporary access to some of the private woodland on our working estate, allowing more people to discover the special peace and nature found beyond the public rights of way.
It’s an exclusive opportunity to enjoy tranquil walks and give your dogs additional, beautiful routes to explore.
By becoming a Friend, you join us in a shared responsibility to respect this private environment, ensuring this wonderful trial initiative can thrive for the benefit of all.
To find out more, click the link below.
Events on the Public Rights of Way (PRoW)
Many family members regularly enjoy walking, and some have even been known to run up and down the footpaths in the estate, so are happy to support the use of the public footpaths in the estate for events that promote fitness and help raise funds for local charities.
As a working farm and estate and to ensure the safety of all, please contact sharon@lowerhousefarm.org to inform us of any events being planned that will use the PRoW on the estate and if any of the PRoW have a temporary obstruction (like a fallen branch) that needs clearing.
Please note the following:
Liability
Guy Properties (Farming) Limited (the landowner) will not be liable for any injuries or adverse events that may occur to participants or event staff while using the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) on our estate.
The responsibility for conducting a risk assessment, having appropriate event and public liability insurance, and contingencies to deal with any injury or adverse event while participants and event staff are using the PRoW on our estate lie solely with the team organising the event.
Please ensure that all runners and event staff stay on the PRoW and do not trespass into the surrounding private woods and farmland. The PRoW are also used by other members of the public who may have dogs on and off leads. Please do not cause an obstruction to other users of the PRoW.
The surface condition of the PRoW are the responsibility of West Sussex County Council.
Race signage and infrastructure
If you plan to put up signage or any infrastructure along your route, you will need to obtain permission from landowners for those parts of the course - even if the path itself is a PRoW.
The onus is on the event team to request written permission to install signage and infrastructure.
Signage and infrastructure installed without written permission from the landowner will be removed, and we reserve the right to charge for this.
All signage and infrastructure must be removed within 4 hours of the event finishing.
For more information, please contact the Trail Running Association here.
Litter
All rubbish dropped by runners and event staff must be cleared from the PRoW within 4 hours of the event finishing.
Photographs, videos and social media
Unless written permission is given by the landowner, event organisers cannot use photographs and video taken on our estate to publish on other websites, social media or other publications.
