South Downs Way 3 : Petersfield to Cocking walk

12.7 miles/20.4 km

7 out of 10 (466m of ascent)

You'll need OS Explorer Maps OL8 (was 120 - Chichester) and (for the first 2km) OL33 (was 133 - Haslemere), or a guidebook to the SDW with maps

This is a ridge walk along the South Downs Way (SDW). A good, easy to follow path, with some steep ascents in the westerly half of the walk, but only gentle ups and downs east of the Devil's Jumps, and fine 360 degree views for most of the way.

It's a different kind of South Downs Way from the more familiar sections further east. Quite wooded and with big sections on tracks and lanes. The first half would actually make a good bluebell walk and it would not be a bad autumn colour outing either. The scenery in this mid section is wonderful - classic grassy downland, with lots of ups and downs and great views. After more woodland there is a long track section through flowery meadows and a beautiful descent to Cocking, perhaps the best scenery of the walk.

It is best to bring a picnic, as the only pubs are very early, or at the bottom of the South Downs ridge which you need to re-ascend afterwards.

From Petersfield Station, the walk goes through the town square, then heads south from to Buriton (4 km) along the Hangars Way following a small stream. There is an option for very early pub lunch in Buriton

Then it's up on to the ridge for the main part of the walk (16 km) which follows the SDW along the crest of the South Downs ridge, past Tower Hill (has a folly), Beacon Hill (242 metres, ancient hill fort), Treyford Hill and Linch Ball (hill, trig point just north of the SDW path).

At Harting Down, just before Beacon Hill, you can head 1,1 km north, down off the ridge to the pub in South Harting. A little further, you can head 800 metres south to Uppark, a NT Historic Country House with a tea room (you need to pay admission to enter). These are the only refreshment possibilities on this part of the walk.

The SDW meets the A 286 road just south of Cocking which has a bus stop. Optionally, leave the SDW 1.5 km earlier on Cocking Down, and head north east along a path towards Cocking village (1 km north along the A 286 road) which has The Bluebell restaurant-pub to await your bus. There is a good bus connection south to Chichester, or north to Midhurst, where you can change for Haslemere (on the same line as Petersfield, so a much cheaper train ticket). For a group, a taxi would be comparable in prices.

Options

• At Beacon Hill, you can follow the official SDW route around the hill to the south, rather than over the steep summit.
• The walk can be done in either direction.
• (to do) Finish in Midhurst, which is 4 km (2.5 miles) north of Cocking, and has better bus connections back to the start. It has not been walk tested though. There is a disused railway line north to Midhurst from Cocking, but its not yet a right of way - its is in the planning stage though as an extension of the Centurion Way. For now, from Cocking, cross the A 286, then north-east and back north-west. You'll need an OS map. If you try this, please let us know how you get on.
• This walk can be combined to form a 2 day walk along the SDW from Amberley to Petersfield.

• The Five Bells High Street, Buriton GU31 5RX (01730 263584) Food served every day 12 - 2.30pm. Located 4 km from the start of the walk.
• The White Hart, South Harting, GU31 5QB, 01730 825124, www.the-whitehart.co.uk/, 1.1 km (and 75 metres re-ascent) off the route, below the ridge. Friendly, and had a nice garden. Gastropub with two fireplaces. There is a bus back to Petersfield from just outside.
• Uppark NT cafe - admission required - open Sun-Thur during the summer.

• Uppark (NT) NT historic house with a pleasent aspect to the south. Has a nice story of how, one day, the Lord of the Manor sent a message to the dairy maid, proposing marriage. She said yes. The house burnt down in 1989, and strangely, was restored to its condition the day before the fire, rather than the day it was built.
• Devil's Jumps. Not the original Devil's Jumps (near Farnham in Surrey), these are well preserved Bronze Age burial mounds.

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

Dec-17 Andrew