Haslemere to Midhurst via Midhurst Way walk

Quiet hills and forests, 2 country pubs, and Cowdray Park.

Black Down from Verdleyhill SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Black Down from Verdleyhill

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 banner 52995329996

Views out to Butser Hill/South Downs from Marley Common car park SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Views out to Butser Hill/South Downs from Marley Common car park

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 walkicon 52995468374

Cowdray Park: Fortified Cowdray House (ruined) SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Cowdray Park: Fortified Cowdray House (ruined)

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 walkicon 52995798383

Spread Eagle Hotel, Midhurst SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Spread Eagle Hotel, Midhurst

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 walkicon 52994728827

Tree Roots on sunken track up Marley Combe SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Tree Roots on sunken track up Marley Combe

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 52995329326

Marley Common SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
Marley Common

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 52995329346

View to Hindhead/Gibbet Hill from Marley Common SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)
View to Hindhead/Gibbet Hill from Marley Common

SWC Walk 218 Haslemere to Midhurst (The Midhurst Way)

Jun-23 • thomasgrabow on Flickr

swcwalks swcwalk218 52994727322

Length 16.3 km (10.1 mi), with 332/449m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.
Toughness 4 out of 10, with 4 hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 7 ½ hours.
Walk Notes

The route of this walk leads out of Haslemere in a southerly direction through Camelsdale and steeply up to Marley Common, a mixture of mature woodland and open heathland and then continues south through a fine mix of quiet forests with frequent far views out to the South Downs or back to Black Down. The walk continues to the scenic villages of Fernhurst and then Henley with their respective pubs, the latter halfway up another steep ascent to Verdleyhill. Finally it passes Easebourne village and priory and enters Midhurst via Cowdray Park with its polo fields, then past the ruined Cowdray Castle by the River Rother.

This walk is the northerly section of the unmarked Midhurst Way, which has been created by John Trueman, local to the area and a passionate advocate of outdoor pursuits. It runs between Arundel and Haslemere. The southerly section Arundel to Midhurst is available as a separate SWC Walk.
Both sections have been written up in either direction (in separate pdf’s) to enable a through-walk of the whole 47.4 km/29.5 mi Midhurst Way with an overnight stay along the route in Sutton, Coultershaw Bridge, Tillington, Halfway Bridge (a little off route) or Midhurst.

Walk Options

For a shortcut, the Midhurst to Haslemere bus line 70 also stops along the route in: Fernhurst, Henley (above the village on the A-road) and Easebourne (350m off-route on the A286).
For an Extension, choose a longer route through the peaceful woods west of Marley Heights. This adds 2.3 km and 57m ascent/descent.
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 closest to 10.00.

Lunch

The Hub 2 Crossfield, Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3JL (01428 641 931). The Hub is located 5.8 km (3.6 mi) into the walk.
The Red Lion The Green, Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3HY (01428 643 112). The Red Lion is located 6.2 km (3.8 mi) into the walk.
The Fern at the Pavilion The Pavilion, Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3HY (01428 253 768). The Fern is located 6.2 km (3.8 mi) into the walk.
The Duke of Cumberland Arms Henley Village, Henley near Fernhurst, Midhurst, Surrey GU27 3HQ (01428 652 280). The Duke of Cumberland is located 9.7 km (6.1 mi) into the walk.

Tea

Plenty of options in Easebourne and Midhurst, check 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.

Profile
Help Us!

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:

swcwalks
swcwalk218
By Train

Out (not a train station)

By Car

Start GU27 2PD Map Directions

Finish Midurst GU29 9DJ, West Sussex Map Directions

Amazon
Help

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

Version

Jul-23 John Trueman Thomas G

Copyright © Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. No derivatives. Free with attribution for one time non-commercial use only. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml

Walk Directions

Full directions for this walk are in a PDF file (link above) which you can print, or download on to a Kindle, tablet, or smartphone.

This is just the introduction. This walk's detailed directions are in a PDF available from wwww.walkingclub.org.uk