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Midhurst Way - Arundel to Midhurst

South Downs Walk

Nat Park - South Downs

County/Area - West Sussex

Author - John Trueman

Length - 19.0 miles / 30.9 km    Ascent - 1600 feet / 485 metres

Time - 11 hours 10 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Midhurst Way - Arundel to Midhurst
Click image to see photo description.

The length of this walk is quite challenging and there are a number of options for splitting the route into a two day walk. Public transport links both ends of the route, although do check timetables before starting your walk. The scenery on the way is varied with many points on interest along the route, which suggests a two day walk might be a better option.

From Arundel Station take the left-hand side pavement (sidewalk) adjoining the A27 and walk westwards to the second roundabout. Cross the A27 and head for the two single storey cottages on the north-west side of the roundabout between the A27 and the A284 London Rd and enter the restricted byway between the two cottages, signposted Chalk Springs Trout Farm.

Walk through the mini industrial estate half a mile down - a media company and others - and continue up the track to a gate. From here take the footpath up the slope to the right for half a mile until you hit a rough stone track going north-west to south east. Turn left onto the flint track - entitled Rough - which runs along the contour, drops down into a valley and up a stiff slope the other side to a footpath sign indicating half left into the forest - the metalled track goes on. Shortly, the path becomes narrow. Keep going through the yew trees, most of which are on your left or westward side - the path is difficult to see here - and follow it down hill to where you hit a track with a single post right of way sign. Note another waymark has been erected in the yew tree section.

It now becomes a stiff uphill walk until you hit a track with a signpost showing the path to be ahead (not down the track). Shortly after this you hit the crest. Go straight ahead and follow the path down the scarp to the earth and plank stairway. Cross the main A29 road and follow the track to The Denture. Turn off right at Barhale Wood and follow path to West Burton Hill. Thence through the wood and, finally, downhill to West Burton. Turn left at the junction of the track and the lane where there are several cottages and a stream. Footpath to Bignor. You may need to walk round standing corn as the path has not been left by the farmer. There is a way round the last field on its southern edge.

Continue left on the lane at Bignor - the Roman Villa with its vineyard is in front of you across the lane. Bear right down the lane past Jay's Farm and after a few hundred yards where you see a footpath sign to the left just in front of a cottage take the path down this valley past Bignor Mills and across the fields to Sutton. When you hit the lane at Sutton the White Horse pub is immediately ahead. Turn left through the pub car park and follow the footpath through the gardens of private houses, across the fields, and down the slope to a small wooded stream. Bear right up the meadow, across a style in a large hedge, turn sharp left along the track to Barlavington Farm.

Turn left just before the farmyard and follow the path through the churchyard to the farm drive, continue down this a short way and follow the right of way sign west past an old yew tree, down the hill to the stream, across the lane, up the next hill - a field - to where it joins the lane again with views to Burton Park to the right (north-east). Continue around the big field with wood on your left, downhill past the pond and through the park to Burton Park Farm and thence to the next lane.

Cross the road and go through the wood to Heath End. Turn right on to the busy main road - Petworth to Chichester - and follow the pavement (sidewalk) until you hit the old railway bridge. You get a good view eastwards to the Old Railway Station B&B with its Pullman carriages.

Turn left immediately after the old bridge and follow the lane - a bridleway - to Rotherbridge, and cross the River Rother by the new bridleway bridge. Thence via a sunken track, Hunger Lane, through the sandstone bluff to the intersection with the next lane. Turn left to Sokenholes, Coxland Cottages and Tillington. Cross the main road - Midhurst to Petworth - into Tillington and turn sharp left after 50 yards up a rise into the village, following the lane to a churchyard entrance on the left after about 100 yards. Follow the path though the churchyard, turning sharp right at the avenue of trees, pass through the gate - see picture - cross the lane, and go up steps into a field.

Continue across this field into the vineyard, across a deep, hidden old lane to Upperton Farm and thence up into more vineyards owned by Nyetimber. Cross New Road and follow the lane opposite - going north-west - to River via Dene Dip. Take the footpath left after the right hand bend down a tunnel of shrubs and trees to Eel Bridge over the River Lod. cross Lodsworth Common (not marked) to St Peter's Well, taking Vicarage Lane - to the right of the big house - up into the village.

Turn right into The Street, after 100 yards turn left past the Hollist Arms in the direction of the Village Hall. Adjoining The Hollist Arms is the Lodsworth Larder, the village shop, crafted from local forest timber and stocked with local produce and run by volunteers.

Continue down the lane to a sharp left hand bend at Heath End Farm, take the footpath ahead down the edge of the wood - Heathend Copse - round the field edge, across a broken style and into Cowdray Park, with views in every direction, through the Jubilee Avenue of 60 recently planted lime-trees celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee thence downhill to Steward's Pond.

The 1000 year old Queen Elizabeth Oak is to the right of the pond, surrounded by other ancient trees covering the hillside. Continue past Steward's Pond on its southern edge, to the fence 50 yards ahead, pass through the swing gate, into a broad grassy way, bearing right, continue through the trees up the slope to where it breaks out on the fairway of Cowdray Golf Course. Cross over the golf course and down into another sunken pathway, finally crossing fields to The Race, an avenue of ancient chestnut trees.

Turn left before The Race and follow the field margin to the main road at Easebourne - Midhurst to Petworth Road; or follow The Race itself which is rougher going. Cross the main road and continue on a broad track, at first metalled, through Cowdray Park - the Cowdray Farm Shop & Café (Food Emporium) is on your right - to Cowdray Castle. Turn right through the gates over the River Rother and follow the Causeway to North Street Car Park, your finishing point. The South Downs National Park Authority new HQ, Capron House, is across the road (North Street) opposite the Bus Station.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2835 Arundel to Amberley easy6.2 miles
Walk 3080 Arundel Park and the River Aruneasy/mod7.2 miles
Walk 3305 Amberley Mount and Wepham Downeasy/mod8.0 miles
Walk 2487 Littlehampton to Climpingeasy5.0 miles
Walk 1917 Rackham Hill from Amberleyeasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 1615 Amberley & East Dean Circularmod/hard21.0 miles
Walk 1466 Amberley and Arundel Circularmoderate13.0 miles
Walk 1628 Bignor Hill and The Denture from Amberley moderate8.7 miles
Walk 1629 The River Arun & South Stokeeasy4.6 miles
Walk 1667 Blackpatch Hill & Harrow Hill from near Storringtoneasy/mod7.2 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walks in the South Downs National Park

Walks in the South Downs National ParkGuidebook with 40 circular walks throughout the South Downs National Park, exploring the beautiful chalk hills between Eastbourne and Winchester. The walks range from under 5 miles to 11 miles, including Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, Ditchling Beacon and hundreds of prehistoric sites. Accessible all year, but wild flowers best in spring.
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