Arundel to Midhurst via Midhurst Way Walk

This is a very long (19 miles!) walk through a less visited part of the South Downs National Park. As a 1-day walk, its only suited to the longer days of summer. However, its can be split into 2 shorter walks by staying at a pub or B&B. en route. There is no public transport along the route to spit it into 2 one-day walks.

The route is over footpaths, bridleways, tracks and quiet country lanes. At first it is a climb from Arundel up the wooded dip-slope of the South Downs to the crest at Yew Tree Gate, a popular picnic spot.

Thence an open downland walk with views in every direction until you reach West Burton, a hamlet nestling at the base of the downs with its own stream. The countryside now changes to broad, gently undulating fields of corn in summertime until you reach Bignor. Here is the site for the Roman Villa now surrounded by vineyards. Underneath the downs there is a network of winding lanes and small villages, woodland mixed with open fields, low hills and streams, ponds and lakes.

After Bignor you follow the South Downs Way come to Sutton and a popular pub, The White Horse, then Barlavington with the famous old yew tree. On the next downland rise the views across to Burton Park and Petworth are breathtaking.

For those contemplating breaking their hike hear you can make a short diversion to Toad Hall at Duncton west of The Way or to The Carriage House east of The Way at Burton Park

As you approach the River Rother Valley, Coultershaw and Rotherbridge the scenery changes yet again to a wooded riverine environment immediately followed by wide stretches of open farnland, gently rising to Tillington and its beautiful church. You're now on very different geology, sandstone, which supports a totally different ecology to the chalk downland. Quite noticeable is the way land useage has changed recently, and large vineyards stretch across the upland landscape for several miles.

The Midhurst Way follows this sandstone upland - it stretches from near Petersfield in the West to West Chiltington in the East - through River to Lodsworth. Adjoining the Lodsworth Larder (a community eco shop) is the Hollist Arms. Two miles ahead is the Cowdray Farm Shop & Café in Easebourne. But, before getting to Easebourne on the outskirts of Midhurst, home to the Cowdray Estate, enjoy Cowdray Park to the full as you drop down the hill and espy the 1000 year old Queen Elizabeth Oak, still standing solidly with a full crown of leaves. Fourteen people shoulder-to-shoulder can stand inside the trunk.Lots of other magnificent old trees still grow on this wonderful open-grassed hillside, a place of timeless beauty. To commemorate the Queen's Jubilee, Cowdray have planted an avenue of 60 lime trees on the hillside so they flank the Way above, and to, Steward's Pond.

As you traverse the fairway of Cowdray Golf Course, you are on a broad hill with panoramic views to the horizon in the West, the downs above South Harting. The Liberal yellow paintwork of the Cowdray houses give visual credence to the belief that Midhurst is in reality a sunny place as well as being so in the minds and hearts of its people. H.G.Wells who grew up here said " Midhurst has always been a happy place for me. I supposed it rained there at times but all my memories of Midhurst are in sunshine'

The final visual joy, as you trudge the last mile, preceded by the smooth-as-velvet polo fields with their mown stripes, is Cowdray Castle enclosed on two sides by the serpentine River Rother, and its wooded river bluff. As you go down the Castle Causeway turn round and look at the castle in the evening light . It's magical. There is no place quite like it.

This walk's website has the latest information about the walk, more detailed directions, and photos

This walk can be combined with the Haslemere to Midhurst walk to form the Midhurst Way - a 3 day south to north traverse of the South Downs National Park.

The White Horse (01798 869221) at SUTTON has good food

At the mid-point is COULTERSHAW BRIDGE over the River Rother - with the excellent Old Railway Station (01798 342346) for b&b and Badgers Inn (01798 342651) for food (and b&b).

A b&b in BURTON PARK is The Carriage House and , if you take a short diversion to DUNCTON, Toad Hall. The Cricketers at DUNCTON do good grub. A few miles further on north , TILLINGTON has the Horseguards Inn (01798 342332) with good food and b&b. It's close to Petworth and Petworth Park NT

Trains from London Victoria go to Arundel. Return from Midhurst by bus to Pulborough station (on the Arundel line) or Haslemere (on a different line to Waterloo requiring a more expensive ticket - a return to Chichester should be valid via both routes)

Check the times of the last bus! You might find it less stressful to do the walk in reverse, and finish at Arundel rtrain station.

Taxi: BJ's Private Hire (01730 716327 or 07732 590806). Midhurst back to Arundel - £28 to take 4, £58 to take 8.