Halnaker to Chichester via Goodwood Walk

22.9 km (14.2 mi), with 475/501m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

6 out of 10 (with several steep ascents around lunch, so may feel tougher than that), with 5 hours 30 minutes walking time.
For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 10 hours.

This West Sussex walk makes for a relatively long day out for the length of the walk, as it involves a bus connection to the start after an already long train journey to Chichester. Its main purpose is to explore the scenic steep chalk downlands well north of Chichester around the Upper Lavant Valley, between St. Roche’s Hill and the South Downs chain, while passing through the Goodwood estate as well as through Chichester’s Old Town at the end. The lonely grassy or wooded hillsides of the beautiful Lavant Valley are dissected by quiet flat-bottomed valleys, and feature several pretty villages, as well as providing for stunning views. Most of the climbing is done between the lunch pubs, but the longest ascent comes straight after the late lunch option, up to St. Roche’s Hill, from whose treeless summit you have grand views in all directions.

Optional out-and-backs at the start, to Halnaker Hill (with its windmill) and/or Boxgrove Priory, as well as an extension loop to and through the Goodwood Art Foundation’s sculpture park, are described.

Out-and-backs at the start to Halnaker Hill or Boxgrove Priory add 5.1 and 2.6 km respectively.
An Extension Loop to the Goodwood Art Foundation’s sculpture park (and galleries and café/ restaurant) near the start adds up to 4.7 km. Ticketed entry, with walkers paying a discounted price. A suggested route through the grounds, passing all of the (2025) sculptures is shown on the route map.
A Shortcut around lunch reduces the length of the walk by 3.6 km and the ascent/descent by 167m.
Another Shortcut around lunch reduces the length of the walk by 0.8 km and the ascent/descent by 93m.
An infrequent bus service (number 99 Mon-Sat) runs past the early lunch stops in East Dean and Charlton. You need to phone ahead to book a stop though (01903-264 776)!
An Alternative Ending in West Dean cuts out 6.5 km.
A half-hourly bus service runs from Singleton, West Dean and Lavant to Chichester (hourly on Sundays).
An hourly bus service from the fringes of Chichester cuts 2.5 km at the end (Mon-Sat only).

OS Explorer: OL8 (Chichester) and OL10 (Arundel & Pulborough)
OS Landranger: 197 (Chichester & the South Downs)

Halnaker Crossroads, map reference SU 907 080, is 6 km north east of Chichester and 37m above sea level. Chichester Station, map reference SU 858 043, is 22 km east of Portsmouth and 11m above sea level. Both are in West Sussex. Halnaker Crossroads is a stop on the number 55 bus service from Chichester to Tangmere. The service runs half-hourly Mon-Sat and hourly on Sundays. It links well to trains arriving from London and takes 20 minutes to Halnaker. Chichester station is on the London Victoria to Southampton West Coastway Line. Journey times (two trains an hour) are 92 minutes Monday to Saturday and 106 minutes on Sundays.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.30 hours (but earlier if aiming for the late lunch pub in Singleton).

24 – Café at Goodwood Art Foundation New Barn Hill, Goodwood, Chichester, PO18 0QP (01243 755 090). 24 is located on the Extension Loop to the Goodwood Art Foundation and a newly built ambitious café/restaurant.
The Star and Garter, East Dean, West Sussex, PO18 0JG (01243 811 318). The Star and Garter is located 5.6 km (3.5 mi) into the walk and is a flint and brick country pub with rooms.
The Fox Goes Free, Charlton, West Sussex, PO18 0HU (01243 811 461). The Fox Goes Free is located 9.4 km (5.9 mi) into the walk on Shortcut II and is a 400-year-old inn with home cooked food.
The Partridge Inn, Singleton, West Sussex, PO18 0EY (01243 811 251). The Partridge Inn is located 11.4 km (7.1 mi) into the full walk and is a 16th century pub with great character.

Plenty of options in West Dean, Lavant and Chichester. See the pdf for details.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Sep-25 Thomas G