Walking Britain South Downs Walk
Midhurst and Woolbeding
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL33 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL33 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 197 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 197 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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The start of this South Downs walk in West Sussex is the free car park opposite the Cowdray Farm Shop & Café at Easebourne near Midhurst. There are approximately 100 spaces in the car park. Exit the car park and follow the estate road for about three-quarters of a mile to the environs of Cowdray Castle. Turn right over the River Rother footbridge opposite the castle and follow the Castle Causeway to the entrance to North Street Car Park.
Continue to North Street and the zebra crossing and traffic lights. Cross over to Capron House, which is the Headquarters of the South Downs National Park. Turn right and follow the pavement past the new Academy school to North Bridge Weir. The Rother Path sign is near the bench situated in a small meadow. Follow the path along the river for three-quarters of a mile until you reach the National Trust Woolbeding Parkland sign and gate.
Either climb gently half left to Whiphill Wood, pass through the wood, and thence towards the A272 over rolling grassland to the public path which leads to Woolbeding Bridge or walk straight ahead along the fenceline for 400 yards, pass through a gate, and walk round Woolbeding Lake, now on your left. In front, across the river on a rise you can just see Woolbeding House and the Folly. The river curls round to the west with graceful meanders until it arrives at Woolbeding Bridge.
You need to cross the river at Woolbeding Bridge. This is on the lane from the A272 to Woolbeding. After walking round the lake pass through a gate into rolling grassland and strike uphill half left until you are above the woodland strip leading to Woolbeding Bridge. Drop down to the NT gate and join the public footpath which leads along the river to the bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left immediately into NT Woolbeding Meadow. Walk across the meadow - NT Open Access Land - pass through a 5-bar gate close to the river, and strike up right shortly after and follow the path left through Woolbeding Wood along the bluff to Brambling Farm on the lane.
Turn right into the lane and almost immediately find the steps and path into the field on the right. Follow the field edge path and take the steps down into the lane at the road junction, immediately opposite the entrance to Woolbeding House and Gardens. Take the road, Hollist Lane, and after 50 yards climb a gentle slope to the right to a stile into the field, and follow the footpath along the field margin to Hollist House some half a mile distant. The continue along the lane into Easebourne and the start of the walk.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1425 Midhurst Way - Petworth to Midhurst - easy/mod - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk 1835 Treyford & Didling from Hooksway - easy/mod - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 1514 Gibbet Hill & the Devil's Punch Bowl from Haslemere - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 3228 Black Down, West Sussex, from Haslemere - easy/mod - 10.0 miles/16.3 km
Walk 1424 The Midhurst Way - Haslemere Stn to Midhurst Bus Stn - moderate - 9.5 miles/15.4 km
Walk 3548 Stoughton, Kingley Vale & Bow Hill from Stoughton Down - easy/mod - 5.2 miles/8.5 km
Walk 2422 Butser Hill and Wether Down from Buriton - moderate - 12.5 miles/20.3 km
Walk 1917 Rackham Hill from Amberley - easy/mod - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 1615 Amberley circular via East Dean - mod/hard - 21.0 miles/34.1 km
Walk 1466 Amberley circular via Arundel - moderate - 13.0 miles/21.1 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walks in the South Downs National Park
Guidebook 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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Outdoor Photography
This practical handbook covers digital outdoor photography and the whole range of outdoor activities including walking, running, cycling, water sports (in and on the water), as participant or spectator. Covers basic concepts, equipment and processing and optimising your images back at base.
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