Buchan Country Park
Buchan Country Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Buchan Country Park is 170 acres of countryside on Crawley's doorstep and a Green Flag Award winning Country Park. Owned and managed by West Sussex County Council, it is a haven for quiet recreation and a variety of wildlife. The waters at Buchan are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the variety of dragonfly species. The park is an ideal place for walking, wildlife watching or enjoying a picnic. We have a permanent orienteering course, 2 way-marked trails and sculpture dotted around the park. The Countryside Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday, where Cuppa-Love serve hot and cold drinks. Lose yourself amongst the birch trees, wander around the heath and linger in the meadow, Buchan Park has plenty to offer.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
131 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
40
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
2
leetemum
Worthing, UK60 contributions
Aug 2020
Beautiful Park. Pleased to see that the toilets are now reopen and they have also added a coffee mobile unit just past the car park. Had a lovely walk with the children and dogs plus had a picnic. Plenty of picnic tables and bins around. Very little dog poo been left too due to loads of bins and the poo fairy posters. My kids love it here and we visited here several times since June.
Written August 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Al B
Banstead, UK21 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Lovely park for families, dog-walkers and runners. Donation-only parking, a simple cafe with wonderful bird-viewing and some fun dens. Saw loads of common garden birds as well as a few nuthatches. Charming place.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charley Francis
Crawley, UK37 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Beautiful country park - I am lucky enough to live a mile away so visit several times a week with my partner and dog.
Great to visit at all times of year with multiple walking routes available. Lovely staff and volunteers.
Great to visit at all times of year with multiple walking routes available. Lovely staff and volunteers.
Written September 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil R
Cheltenham, UK7 contributions
Oct 2022
Came here after Tilgate brought in their effective dog ban. Lovely park. Nice trails. Dog friendly and quiet with free parking (or a small donation which we were happy to make). What’s not to like. We’ll be back.
Written October 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie K
Horsham, UK44 contributions
May 2018 • Family
I've lived in Horsham all my life but until I became a dog owner had only ever visited Buchan once .....now we are regulars . Parking is free and as long as you love dogs this is a great place to go . The lake is beautiful all year round and the coffee barista there at weekends an extra bonus . We often meet here in our monthly cavachon walks
Written June 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
matt s
6 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
I visited the park with my young daughter and cycled round the lake along the trails which was pleasant enough. Fairly flat around the lake and some inclines as you wonder further from the lake itself.
Unfortunately during our most recent visit I was attacked by a dog and bitten on the afternoon of 02/04/17. Dog ran towards me barking then jumped up at me whilst I was on bicycle and bit my leg puncturing skin through a pair of jeans.
Message to all dog owners: It is your responsibility to have your dog under control at all times there are no excuses.
If my daughter happened to be in front of me, she could have been knocked off her bike and bitten, luckily it was myself who took the hit.
Difficult to police but I believe the rangers could put up signs advising dog owners that they can be fined etc if their dog is dangerous or out of control.
Unfortunately I will not be bringing my children to this park again, its just too risky bearing in mind the shear number of dogs that frequent on a sunny day, a real shame because its a decent park that can be ruined by human negligence, get your dogs under control.
Unfortunately during our most recent visit I was attacked by a dog and bitten on the afternoon of 02/04/17. Dog ran towards me barking then jumped up at me whilst I was on bicycle and bit my leg puncturing skin through a pair of jeans.
Message to all dog owners: It is your responsibility to have your dog under control at all times there are no excuses.
If my daughter happened to be in front of me, she could have been knocked off her bike and bitten, luckily it was myself who took the hit.
Difficult to police but I believe the rangers could put up signs advising dog owners that they can be fined etc if their dog is dangerous or out of control.
Unfortunately I will not be bringing my children to this park again, its just too risky bearing in mind the shear number of dogs that frequent on a sunny day, a real shame because its a decent park that can be ruined by human negligence, get your dogs under control.
Written April 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cfc4ever10
Crawley, UK40 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
Beautiful park and lake, very well looked after with paths and trails for a healthy walk for adults, children and dogs
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elaine g
Crawley, UK5 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Although a very nice place to walk, dog owners please beware. My dog gave instinctive chase to one of the many deer that live in the park and ended up on one of the dual carriageways. Luckily a passing driver managed to catch her before there was a disaster. THE FENCES ARE NOT MAINTAINED.
I've been in contact with various councils and departments who all just 'pass the buck' to each other so I've been going round in circles. Meanwhile there are other dogs, wildlife and children at risk and nobody seems to give a hoot.
I've been in contact with various councils and departments who all just 'pass the buck' to each other so I've been going round in circles. Meanwhile there are other dogs, wildlife and children at risk and nobody seems to give a hoot.
Written December 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Following your report you were contacted the same day by the Senior Ranger at Buchan Country Park. The Ranger said he would walk the highway boundary the following day to assess the condition of the fence. He also said that as he was unsure if the highway fence was the responsibility of the Country Park or West Sussex County Council highways he would make enquiries. An enquiry has been sent to the highways section asking for clarification.
In the past Rangers have carried out minor repairs to the fence line caused by falling trees or vandalism. The question of maintenance liability has not previously arisen as the fence has required very little work since its installation. The fence meets the Highways Act specification for highway fencing adjoining a trunk road.
The highway boundary at Buchan Country Park was walked the following day (21st December). The wire netting is in place throughout the length of the park boundary. There are 4 missing wooden top rails on a section of path on the public footpath from Broadfield. These will be replaced early in the New Year. As a goodwill gesture we will also extend the wire netting a further 25 metres beyond the park boundary on the southern side of the carriageway.
You do not have to put your dog on a lead on a public path but now that you are aware “of the many deer that live in the park” it should be under close control. If you cannot rely on your dog’s obedience it would be safer to keep it on a lead. Dog owners can be liable to pay compensation if their dog causes a car accident that is unavoidable from the driver’s point of view. By law you must control your dog so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals or wildlife.
Written December 21, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
seanpeters2016
Crawley, UK2 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
This park is fantastic. Read a few reviews about nothing to do for the kids - Good. Go to Tilgate if you want a kiddy park. Another review said "it needs a café". No it doesn't - go to Tilgate if you want a café. Someone else said "I don't want to see people carrying poop bag", obviously they would rather it was left all over the floor. If you don't like dogs, DON'T GO TO BUCHAN PARK. There are a shortage of places you can let the dog off the lead for a good run. There is a sign as you go in that says to keep dogs on a lead over the bridge, suggestive that once you are over the bridge it is acceptable to let them off.
If you don't like dogs and you want to sit by a lake, GO TO TILGATE. Us dog owners need Buchan Park more than the dog haters do. Plenty of other open spaces in Crawley suitable for families and children. (Tilgate Park, Southgate Playing Fields, Goffs Park to name but a few). Do not come to Buchan Park and b!tch about the dogs. Go somewhere else if you don't like it.
If you don't like dogs and you want to sit by a lake, GO TO TILGATE. Us dog owners need Buchan Park more than the dog haters do. Plenty of other open spaces in Crawley suitable for families and children. (Tilgate Park, Southgate Playing Fields, Goffs Park to name but a few). Do not come to Buchan Park and b!tch about the dogs. Go somewhere else if you don't like it.
Written July 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jazz
Crawley, UK129 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Very nice place and beautiful lake with a lot places to sit. The walk around the lake is very nice. Peaceful place just outside the Crawley. Good parking space.
Written July 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have just moved to Ifield, are there any dog walking local areas nearby, how far is Buchan Park, I don't drive. Thank you
Written December 12, 2019
Simon R
Crawley, United Kingdom
Hi. Buchan park is very popular with dog walkers. it is just under 2 miles from Ifield station, and would take about 40 minutes to walk from there. for more info visit the West Sussex County Council website and search "Buchan"
There are also walks around Ifield Mill pond which would be closer to you. Hope that helps
Written December 15, 2019
Would this park be ideal to bring my anxious dog to build his confidence? We love walking but he's nervous around new dogs and people, such a stunning boy. Would people mind?
Written January 25, 2018
It’s a great place for dogs... loads of space to walk around in the woods. Although it’s a Dog walkers paradise there’s lots of different paths to take
Written January 27, 2018
I am here for just the day tomorrow, April 5. Are there swans in this parks lake? I read somewhere in a link about Crawley's parks that there were swans. Thanks.
Written April 4, 2016
Only seen ducks and moorhens. In Bewbush Crawley there is a lovely lake.. Waterfield Lake.. there is a boardwalk which goes across the lake and you can feed the ducks and swans, geese... also seen cormorants, herons and kingfishers.
Written January 27, 2018
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