Photo: Antiquary · CC BY 3.062% of the land within 5 km of Upper Beeding is National Park or National Landscape
The South Downs National Park reaches the edge of Upper Beeding. Footpaths add up to 40 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 3.9 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Upper Beeding add up to 0.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Upper Beeding grades B for the outdoors: #26 of 40 in West Sussex. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
What kind of outdoors town is Upper Beeding?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Upper Beeding’s strongest suit is protected countryside on the doorstep, followed by dense footpaths. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Upper Beeding grades B for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Upper Beeding, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
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Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Upper Beeding is 23rd of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 3,000 to 3,200 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Against towns its size, Upper Beeding stands out most for path per km²: only 10 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 57 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whyteleafe Surrey | A+ | 16.3 | 100% | 4.9 | 15% |
| 2 | Arundel West Sussex | A+ | 4.4 | 100% | 3.8 | 56% |
| 3 | Theale Berkshire | A+ | 5 | 100% | 3.8 | 39% |
| 4 | Cuxton Kent | A+ | 25.2 | 90% | 4 | 44% |
| 5 | Horton Heath Hampshire | A+ | 10 | 100% | 3.3 | 13% |
| 6 | Bignall End Staffordshire | A | 9.1 | 100% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 7 | Llangollen Clwyd | A | 3.5 | 91% | 2.5 | 76% |
| 8 | Menai Bridge Gwynedd | A | 1.8 | 100% | 2.4 | 7% |
| 9 | Tywyn Gwynedd | A− | 2.4 | 79% | 1.9 | 51% |
| 10 | Gamesley Derbyshire | A− | 0.8 | 100% | 5 | 32% |
| 11 | Netherton (Kirklees) West Yorkshire | A− | 2 | 88% | 5.5 | 6% |
| 12 | Oughtibridge South Yorkshire | A− | 2.2 | 76% | 6 | 19% |
| 13 | Bream Gloucestershire | A− | 2.2 | 82% | 4.7 | 10% |
| 14 | Wootton Isle of Wight | B+ | 3.7 | 67% | 1.7 | 20% |
| 15 | North Petherton Somerset | B+ | 3.8 | 91% | 2.3 | 5% |
| 16 | Amlwch Gwynedd | B+ | 1.6 | 87% | 2.1 | 14% |
| 17 | Porthleven Cornwall | B+ | 1.6 | 78% | 2.5 | 19% |
| 18 | Drayton Oxfordshire | B+ | 1.7 | 100% | 3 | 3% |
| 19 | Markyate Hertfordshire | B+ | 1.4 | 100% | 2.2 | 53% |
| 20 | Wheatley Hill County Durham | B+ | 2.6 | 100% | 3 | 0% |
| 21 | Newton and Blackwell Derbyshire | B | 2.6 | 91% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 22 | Honeybourne Worcestershire | B | 2.9 | 80% | 2.6 | 14% |
| 23 | Upper Beeding West Sussex | B | 0.6 | 83% | 3.9 | 62% |
| 24 | Fleur-de-lis and Pengam Gwent | B | 6 | 54% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 25 | Weldon Northamptonshire | B | 8.2 | 100% | 1.1 | 0% |
| 26 | Newbold Verdon Leicestershire | B− | 2.3 | 100% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 27 | Bugbrooke Northamptonshire | B− | 3.7 | 80% | 3 | 0% |
| 28 | Askam in Furness Cumbria | B− | 1.7 | 90% | 2 | 0% |
| 29 | Long Hanborough Oxfordshire | B− | 1.3 | 89% | 2.7 | 18% |
| 30 | Harwell Oxfordshire | B− | 1.4 | 85% | 2.3 | 42% |
| 31 | Crumbles East Sussex | B− | 0.3 | 44% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 32 | Lambourn Berkshire | C+ | 1.2 | 61% | 3 | 100% |
| 33 | Etwall Derbyshire | C+ | 2.3 | 100% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 34 | Dymchurch Kent | C+ | 1.6 | 58% | 1 | 13% |
| 35 | Thaxted Essex | C | 0.8 | 91% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 36 | Swillington West Yorkshire | C | 2.2 | 68% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 37 | West Bergholt Essex | C | 1.5 | 82% | 1.8 | 9% |
| 38 | Swanmore Hampshire | C | 1.4 | 69% | 1.9 | 54% |
| 39 | Sutton Courtenay Oxfordshire | C | 1.2 | 23% | 4 | 6% |
| 40 | West Chiltington West Sussex | C | 1.5 | 18% | 2.7 | 38% |
| 41 | Bottesford Leicestershire | C | 3.9 | 69% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 42 | Haddenham Cambridgeshire | C | 2.2 | 86% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 43 | Teynham Kent | C | 0.8 | 55% | 1.8 | 13% |
| 44 | Ogmore Vale Mid Glamorgan | C | 4.3 | 79% | 0.9 | 0% |
| 45 | Fenstanton Cambridgeshire | C− | 0.8 | 100% | 2 | 0% |
| 46 | Cullingworth West Yorkshire | C− | 1.1 | 72% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 47 | Hadlow Kent | C− | 1.7 | 61% | 2 | 11% |
| 48 | Charvil Berkshire | C− | 0.7 | 68% | 2.7 | 6% |
| 49 | Claydon Suffolk | C− | 2.8 | 72% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 50 | Lostwithiel Cornwall | C− | 1.6 | 67% | 1.5 | 11% |
| 51 | West Auckland County Durham | C− | 1.1 | 91% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 52 | South Petherton Somerset | C− | 1.1 | 61% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 53 | Rendlesham Suffolk | C− | 0.8 | 52% | 1.6 | 59% |
| 54 | Navenby Lincolnshire | D | 1.2 | 81% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 55 | Gobowen Shropshire | D | 1.2 | 50% | 1.2 | 2% |
| 56 | Skellingthorpe Lincolnshire | D | 1.2 | 69% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 57 | Gilberdyke East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 0.7 | 90% | 0.3 | 0% |
| 58 | Queniborough Leicestershire | D | 1.4 | 48% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 59 | Kirton in Lindsey Lincolnshire | D− | 1.7 | 57% | 0.8 | 0% |
| 60 | Boroughbridge North Yorkshire | D− | 0.4 | 60% | 1.6 | 0% |
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Upper Beeding’s built-up area.
8 in 10 Upper Beeding residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
About 500 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 7 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 443 residents.
National Parks and National Landscapes around Upper Beeding
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
South Downs
62% of the land within 5 km of Upper Beeding is National Park or National Landscape, more than 94% of UK towns. South Downs National Park covers 1,653 km² and has been a National Park since 2010.
Upper Beeding is on the European walking route E9, Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Jevington
40 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Upper Beeding and the kilometre around it, 3.9 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
The European walking route E9, Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Jevington, a national route, passes Upper Beeding. 2 regional routes pass through, including the Downs Link and Monarch's Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
The best walking months in Upper Beeding: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 8.0 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 99 | 72 | 59 | 51 | 46 | 53 | 57 | 63 | 67 | 98 | 107 | 106 |
May is the driest month (46 mm) and August the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 107 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 40 nights a year. The climate in Upper Beeding →
7 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Upper Beeding is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 3
Nature reserves 2
Picnic sites 1
Playgrounds 7
Plus 6 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 3
Plus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Beeding | B | 0.6 | 83% | 62% |
| Steyning 1.1 mi | A− | 1.6 | 86% | 58% |
| Henfield 3.6 mi | A− | 3.8 | 51% | 17% |
| Shoreham-by-Sea 3.7 mi | A− | 1.6 | 74% | 35% |
| Lancing and Sompting 3.9 mi | A | 1.8 | 80% | 37% |
| Southwick 4.4 mi | A | 1.1 | 100% | 34% |
| Findon 4.7 mi | B+ | 1.7 | 74% | 70% |
Southwick, 4.4 miles away, grades A, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Steyning, Henfield and Shoreham-by-Sea have at least twice Upper Beeding’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Upper Beeding
Is Upper Beeding near a National Park?
South Downs National Park reaches the edge of Upper Beeding. It covers 1,653 km² and has been a National Park since 2010.
What are the best walks near Upper Beeding?
4 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Downs Link, European walking route E9, Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Jevington and South Downs Way.
What is the nearest beach to Upper Beeding?
Lancing Beach, 3.7 mi from the edge of the town, then Kingston Beach (3.7 mi). Upper Beeding itself is inland.
How many people in Upper Beeding live near a park?
83% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Upper Beeding?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Upper Beeding good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.9 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 78% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 5% (0.6 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Upper Beeding’s overall grade.
Where Upper Beeding’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.