Richard Williamson’s weekly walking column is one of the most popular features in the Chichester Observer, Worthing Observer and West Sussex Gazette. Now he has compiled his favourite walks – one for every week of the year. With hand-drawn route maps and practical notes, these routes can be covered easily in an afternoon.

Richard Williamson’s weekly walking column has long been one of the most popular features in the Chichester Observer, Worthing Observer and West Sussex Gazette. Now, following the format that has proved such a hit over the years, for the first time he has compiled his favourite walks – one for every week of the year – with hand-drawn route maps. His knowledge and love of the timeless South Downs landscape and its varied flora, fauna and stories – from bat-birds and the Devil’s Jumps to beloved pubs and famous poets – combine with practical notes on routes that can be covered easily in an afternoon. Richard Williamson was for 30 years the manager of Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and has an unparalleled knowledge of South Downs wildlife and lore.

Despite the proximity of these counties to London, walkers parts of the region may find themselves treading some of the quietest footpaths in southern England. With smooth, rolling contours, they sweep across Sussex to terminate at Beachy Head and the spectacular Seven Sisters, and feature in several of the walks here. This is also a region of lonely marshlands, winding creeks and distant horizons. There are walks among these coastal lowlands around Chichester harbour, across the Pevensey Levels and over the reclaimed marshes near Rye, as well as more energetic and dramatic clifftop routes in the Seven Sisters and Hastings country parks.

West Sussex is a walker's paradise with varied landscapes including weald and chalk downland, dense woodland, and, of course, the stunning coast. With half the county designated as protected countryside, this new collection of 100 walks of up to 12 miles will help you explore the best of this beautiful and timeless landscape. The Crowood Walking Guides give detailed and accurate route descriptions of the 100 walks. Full-colour mapping is included which is sourced from the Ordnance Survey. Details of where to park and where to eat and drink are included and also places of interest to see along the way.

A good walk should do more than exercise your heart, lungs and muscles; it should enhance your mood, refresh your soul and leave you knowing a little bit more about your world. There's no better way of getting to know the land than by walking it until that you feel it in your bones - even if these do ache pleasantly after one of the more challenging outings. These 20 original walks have been designed by Sussex walk expert Pat Bowen to let you experience every aspect of the rich Sussex landscape from coast to high heathland, and on the way entertain you with historical titbits, anecdotes, nature notes, folk stories, and the kind of insider knowledge that only locals have, 20 original walks graded into simple, moderate and challenging, Authored by an enthusiastic walk leader with 20 years' experience, All walk sites accessible by public transport and based on OS maps, Walks explore coast and countryside, forest and downland.