Haslemere to Midhurst via Lurgashall walk

Black Down and the Temple of the Winds viewpoint, pretty Lurgashall, Cowdray Estate with its romantic ruin and the historic market town of Midhurst.

Length	21.7 km (13.5 miles), with 469/587m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.
Toughness	6 out of 10, with 5 hours 15 minutes walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours.
Walk Notes	The route leads from Haslemere station through the town’s centre and along the waymarked Serpent Trail through a small Nature Reserve to rise steeply out of town and back down through Camelsdale to then rise with the Sussex Border Path through pastures and pine and heather covered slopes up to Black Down. Following the crest through open heathland, with far views across West Sussex and out to Hampshire, you reach the Temple of The Winds viewpoint, with further panoramic views over the Rother Valley to the South Downs escarpment and easterly across to the West Weald. A long descent through the sloping open grounds of Blackdown House and through bluebell-carpeted woods leads to the classic Sussex village of Lurgashall, with its pub and church at the corner of a picturesque village green and cricket pitch. The afternoon takes you through a mix of flat farmland and wooded hills to the Cowdray Estate, with its golf course-with-views as well as several polo fields, to the romantic ruins of Cowdray House, as captured by JMW Turner. Climbing from the River Rother’s banks, Midhurst's Norman castle ruins are passed en-route to the old market town's attractive centre with its many tea options.
Walk Options	A variant of the middle of the route, south of Black Down, enables a lunch stop at the outstanding Lickfold Inn (cut 900m). In Midhurst, go straight to the Bus Station from the Rother crossing, instead of going up through the town (cut 700m).
Maps	OS Explorer: OL33 (Haslemere & Petersfield) OS Landranger: 186 (Aldershot & Guildford) and 197 (Chichester & the South Downs)
Travel	Haslemere Station, map reference SU 897 329, is 62 km south west of Charing Cross, 139m above sea level and in Surrey. Midhurst Bus Station, map reference SU 887 218, is 11 km south of Haslemere, 25m above sea level and in West Sussex. Haslemere station is on the Portsmouth Direct Line from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour, with up to four trains an hour Mon-Sat (two on Sundays). Journey time is from 48 minutes Mon-Sat (56 minutes on Sundays). Midhurst Bus Stand has services connecting to Haslemere, Petersfield, Pulborough and Chichester stations. Line 70 to Haslemere runs about hourly Mon-Sat (last at 19.15 hours) and every two hours on Sundays (last at 18.35). The fare in 11/21 fare was £5.40. Saturday Walkers' Club: Take the train nearest to 9.00.
Lunch	The Noah's Ark Inn, The Green, Lurgashall, West Sussex (01428 707 346). Located 10.3 km (6.4 mi) into the walk. Booking is recommended on weekends. The Village Shop on the opposite side of the green can supply some snacks. The Lickfold Inn, Highstead Lane, Lickfold, West Susssex (01798 422 070).The Lickfold Inn is located 11.0 km (6.8 mi) into the walk. Booking is recommended on weekends.
Tea	The Cowdray Farm Shop & Café, Easebourne, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0AJ (Tel: 01730 815 152). It is located 1.9 km (1.2 mi) from the end of the walk. Plenty of Options in Midhurst, see page 2 of the pdf for details.

Midhurst	Travel from Midhurst Updated Nov-21 Catch a bus to/from a station, preferably on the same rail line you arrived from. If not possible, buy a more expensive ticket to Chichester, which is valid on both rail lines. Bus times change frequently. Check before you travel. Especially the time of the last bus! Traveline - online timetable Stagecoach South - NB: Stagecoach buses have family tickets, but no group tickets. A day ticket is £8.40 (mobile)/£9.10 (paper). This might make sense if you are travelling from (say) Brighton. There are 4 bus routes to choose from. Portsmouth Direct Line from Waterloo to Haslemere or Petersfield Bus North to Haslemere (7 days) Take Stagecoach bus #70 (destination Guildford or Haslemere) north to Haslemere. Fare: £5.40 (11/21) Mon-Sat: about hourly to 17.05, then 18.10 and 19.15. Takes from 26 mins. Sun: every two hours on xx:35 to 18.35. Takes 25 mins. Bus West to Petersfield (Mon-Sat only) Take bus #91 or #92 (destination Petersfield) west to Petersfield. Mon-Sat: up to six buses per day between them, last at 17.50. Takes 25 mins (#92) or 41 mins (#91). Arun Valley line from Victoria to Pulborough or Chichester Bus East to Pulborough (7 days). Take Stagecoach bus #1 (destination Worthing) east to Pulborough. Fare: £4.90 (11/21) Mon-Sat: about hourly until 19.00. Takes 27 mins. Sun: every two hours, last at 18.30. Takes 27 mins. Both lines (a more expensive ticket to Chichester is needed, valid for all the above stations) South to Chichester (daily, until late Mon-Sat) Take Stagecoach #60 south to Chichester. Fare: £4.90 (11/21) Mon-Sat: every 30 mins until 19.12, then 20.07, 21.37 and 23.07, Takes 36 mins. Sun: hourly until 18.32. Takes 41 mins. You will need a train ticket to Chichester. Chichester's trains aren't evenly spaced, if you miss one you may have a long wait. The bus station is opposite the train station. Buses leave from behind it. Taxi from Midhurst BJ's Private Hire (01730 716 327 or 07732 590 806). Uber is about £20 for Midhurst to Haslemere.
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By Train	Out (not a train station)
By Car	Start GU27 2PD Map Directions Finish Midurst GU29 9DJ, West Sussex Map Directions
Amazon	OS Explorer OL33 OS Explorer OL8
Help	🚧 SE Start walking Large print Using GPS data National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Travelline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234
Version	Nov-21 Thomas G
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