We all know how important solar farms can be in helping to reduce our carbon output but how many of us have actually seen one up close? This week, Steve Kisko finds one right in the heart of the Sussex countryside, sharing its space with grazing sheep.

1. Start at Arlington Reservoir car park. Walk towards the water of the reservoir to join the circular walk path and turn right. Follow this path for 400 yards until it reaches a footbridge and out to a lane.

Pick up a bridleway opposite that turns left and left again as it goes around Polhill’s Farm. On reaching tarmac turn right. In 120 yards turn left through a gate onto a footpath to the top of the reservoir dam.

Follow this with the water on your left for about half a mile until the end of the dam. Take a gate ahead staying on the circular walk, now through woodland.

2. After about 400 yards the path bends left and here you must turn right on to a bridleway with a fence on your left. Just before you turn look ahead out into the open countryside and you will see the solar farm that you will visit later.

Make your way down to a gate and into a field, keeping to the left-hand side. Follow the field boundary as it bends left and keep left as you go under power lines.

Follow the edge as it bends right and stay in the field to a footbridge. At the end of the field continue across a farm track into trees and soon at a T-junction turn left.

In 70 yards reach a lane and turn right. Follow the lane as it bends left and just after it bends right go through a gate on the left and cross the large field aiming for a gap in the hedge opposite. Continue to cross the next field towards houses. The footpath ahead is then fenced-in between gardens.

3. Reach Wick Street, turn left and in 50 yards turn right over a stile and follow a footpath across the right of a field. At the field corner veer into the field on the right then keep left as you go by Claverham Manor.

Where the field begins to veer right take a footbridge on the left through bushes and keep left as you go around the edge of another field above a stream. As the field reaches a corner go over a stile, cut the left corner and cross a footbridge.

Turn right towards Lower Claverham Farm. At a T-junction with red brick wall turn right and walk between farm buildings. Exit the farm completely along a farm track. In 100 yards go through a gate on your left into a field and keep right.

Soon go through another gate and keep right. In 250 yards you reach a stile and T-junction with a Byway. Turn left. In 500 yards you enter Poundfield Road.

4. A few yards on turn left after cottages and through a gate. There is a bridleway from here to a gate opposite. In the next field keep right.

After 150 yards you start to see the edge of the Berwick Solar Farm on your right. Keep right through two fields. Continue on a lane and meet Wick Street again. Turn right.

5. In 180 yards leave the road on your right and enter the solar farm. Leave the field over a footbridge. Walk across open ground to find a footbridge past more solar panels.

Leave via a gate and footbridge, cross over a road and continue opposite via a footbridge and stile. Cross a field to a stile then cross another to a stile. In the next field make your way to the corner boundary of the property at which point turn left to the far right corner of the field.

Go through two gates and keep left by woods. Go through a gate to enter woods which lead to a road. Cross and go through a gate opposite.

Proceed for 40 yards as the reservoir comes into sight. Turn right along a bridleway and in 150 yards arrive back at the car park.

Distance/time: About 5 and a half miles taking 3 hours.

Public transport: Berwick railway station is about half a mile from the start: see www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Bus nos. 47 and 126 serve Berwick railway station operated by Cuckmere Buses, check: www.cuckmerebuses.org.uk

Car: Car park at the start (gate may be closed out of hours). Fee payable.

Underfoot: Flat walk – no hills. Some walking on concrete along the reservoir dam. Some of the agricultural fields may be muddy after rain. Take care along a short section of road walking and when crossing roads.

Thirsty work: At the car park there is a toilet block with a boot washing tap. At the front of the building is a serving hatch for a café.

NOTE: Always follow the Countryside Code when exploring the great outdoors: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code. Keep dogs under close control or on a lead.