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Pulborough to Petworth Walk

Across the Arun valley and Greensand Hills to an attractive town with one of the National Trust's finest properties.

West Sussex

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 26-Apr-25 Pulborough to Petworth - AGAIN!! Good bluebells! 30 quite a bit of sun
Sun, 13-Apr-25 Pulborough Circular or to Petworth 2 sunshine with high clouds
Sat, 12-Aug-23 Pulborough to Petworth or Circular 8
Sat, 09-Jul-22 Pullborough Circular via Petworth 3 sunny and very hot
Sun, 17-Apr-22 Pulborough to Petworth or Pulborough Circular via Petworth 4
Sat, 01-May-21 Pulborough to Petworth (or back to Pulborough) - bluebells, a stately home and a rural pub 34 mixed
Sat, 07-Sep-19 a The Arun and Rother Valleys, a stately pile in a landscaped park and some heathery Commons: Pulborough Circular via Petworth 19 cloudy then sunny
Sat, 19-Aug-17 a The Arun & Rother Valleys, Greensand Hills, Petworth House & Deer Park: Pulborough Circular (via Petworth) 25 sunny with passing clouds
Sat, 11-Jun-16 Saturday Third Walk – Petworth House & Park 23 overcast occasional sun
Sat, 03-May-14 Pulborough to Petworth Walk 25
Sun, 23-Jun-13 a Pulborough to Petworth Walk 2
Sat, 08-Sep-12 Pulborough to Petworth Walk
Sat, 13-Aug-11 Pulborough to Petworth Walk
Sat, 13-Aug-11 a Pulborough to Petworth Walk

Saturday 26-Apr-25

Walker
Length: 12km (7.5 miles) to Petworth, up to 18.8km (11.7 miles) including a loop around the Petworth estate, and 23.8km (14.8 miles) for the circular walk back to Pulborough. T=swc.128
9.35 train from Victoria (9.42 Clapham Junction, 9.53 East Croydon) to Pulborough, arriving 10.52.

Buy a day return to Pulborough
For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
Yes, I know this walk was posted a couple of Sundays ago, but only two people turned up on that occasion. Not sure why, as it is a great choice for this time of year. My memory is of several nice bluebell woods and pretty countryside on the way to Petworth. Definitely a good April walk.
It is 7.5 miles to the charming town of Petworth, where there are two pubs and some cafes for lunch. You can take it easy in the afternoon by doing a loop around the estate of Petworth House, which adds anything from two to four miles depending on the option you choose, or by visiting the house itself (National Trust: grand but a bit intimidating, if you ask me...). Either way you then catch a number one bus from Petworth back to Pulborough station (departing at 13.44, 14.44, 15.49, 16.54, 18.04, 19.14 and 19.44: 13 minutes journey time)
Alternatively, red-blooded walkers can walk back to Pulborough, making a total walk of 14.8 miles. The tea/drinks stop on this option is the extremely quaint White Hart at Stopham Bridge, 1.4 miles before the end of the walk. This serves drinks all afternoon, though its kitchen does not reopen till 6pm. There is nothing much in the refreshment line in the vicinity of Pulborough station.
Trains back from Pulborough are at 24 and 54 past.
  • Sat, 26-Apr-25

    27 assembled on the station platform for this walk. Inevitably with such a big group we quickly got a bit strung out. The weather was better than expected - quite a bit of sun , though cloud at times. It felt very warm and even a bit sticky.

    The bluebells did not appear till mid morning and were in small-ish patches rather than big swathes. Still nice though. There were lots of other floral delights. However the biggest excitement for me (and the one other person I was with at the time) was hearing a nightingale mid morning. This is almost the only time I have heard one in the ordinary countryside, that is outside a site where they are known to be present.

    The approach to Petworth is one of the highlights of this walk. On its ridge top it looks like a Tuscan village (a judiciously placed Lombardy poplar helps this illusion). Its outskirts were awash with alkanet, red campion, forget-me-not and greater celandine.

    A fair number of the faster walkers descended on the Angel for lunch. It proved a bit too much for the pub staff, so some of us sought other options. Two of us found the walk author with a beer outside the Star (making a total of 28 in the walk, I guess - though how much walking did he do?) and ate there. Placing orders at the bar proved a slow process, however, and several others gave up and decamped to a nearby cafe (Tiffins?), where they ate at outside tables. Two more joined the diners to have drinks at the Star.

    After lunch the consensus seemed to be to do the loop around Petworth Park and get the bus. So just five of us girded up our loins to do the route back to Pulborough. On the way we heard our first cuckoo of the year and saw a deer, while swallows flew overhead. We had a nice sit down on a bench on the wooded heathland of Hesworth Common.

    I forgot to mention that as we were leaving Petworth several horse-drawn racing gigs turned up driven by burly men and boys. Approaching the White Hart at Stopham Bridge these passed us on the road, urging their not always happy steeds to greater speed. Realising they were about to descend on the pub, I ran over the ancient bridge and was able to get drinks for three of us before the crush. Three others who arrived a tad later were not so lucky, finding the bar rammed. This prompted one to carry straight on to Pulborough. After a while the crush subsided, however, and the other two got their drinks, and three more walkers turned up who had done part of the Petworth Park loop and then the afternoon route. (Giants walk the Earth!) They also got drinks and joined us at our pleasant outside table by the river.

    After a quiet walk over the hill to Pulborough station, we comfortably caught the 19.24 train, with only a couple of hundred metres of running needed at the end. Nice chat (but no “supplies”) on the way home. Noisy football fans greeted those of us who stayed on all the way to Victoria.

  • Sat, 26-Apr-25

    From reliable resource - 2 more took an earlier train, so 30?

Sunday 13-Apr-25

Stargazer

SWC Walk 128: Pulborough to Petworth or back to Pulborough t=swc.128

Distance: Various options available:

Pulborough to Petworth (bus return): 9.6 – 11.8 miles/15.5 – 19km

Pulborough Circular via Petworth: 14.8 – 16.3 miles/ 24 – 26 km

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 for Pulborough to Petworth; 7 or 8 out of 10 for Pulborough Circular

Train: Take the 9:36 AM Southern train from London Bridge (YES, London Bridge) (stopping at East Croydon at 9:53), arriving at Pulborough at 10:52. If returning from Petworth, you will need to take Stagecoach bus number 1 – it departs Petworth at 14:44; 16:44 and 18:44 and arrives at Pulborough Station at 57 past the hour. Return trains from Pulborough are at 04 past the hour until 22:04. Buy a day return to Pulborough.

This walk is a varied and interesting excursion from Pulborough to Petworth House , one of the National Trust’s most impressive properties. Once in Petworth, you can optionally explore Petworth Park . For those doing the circular route, the return route is more open with good views of the South Downs before eventually arriving on the outskirts of Pulborough at the lovely ancient bridge in Stopham . You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here .

There are two pubs and some other options in Petworth for lunch 7.5 miles/12 km into the walk (see walk notes for details). However, being a Sunday, I would recommend calling ahead.

For those doing the circular route, tea and other late afternoon refreshments can be had at the White Hart in Stopham (1.4 miles/2.3 km before the end) which is open until 20:00 on Sundays.

  • Sun, 13-Apr-25

    Well made it to Petworth .Weather was lovely but not many others on this April walk. Jane

  • Sun, 13-Apr-25

    It may have been the fact that the start was from London Bridge Station that discouraged people.Jo was on the walk and sussed out the route as far as Bognor Common which was a great help .

  • Sun, 13-Apr-25

    2 in sunshine with high clouds

Saturday 12-Aug-23

PeteG
Pulborough to Petworth (bus return): 9.6 – 11.8 miles/15.5 – 19km
Pulborough Circular via Petworth: 14.8 – 16.3 miles/ 24 – 26 km
Difficulty: 6 out of 10 for Pulborough to Petworth; 7 or 8 out of 10 for Pulborough Circular

Petworth House is one of the National Trust's finest properties but it is not easy to visit without a car. The idea here is that you can do a three-hour walk to the town and spend the afternoon visiting the house or exploring the deer park, then catch a bus back to Pulborough. Admission for non-NT members is £17 (2023). There is no charge to enter Petworth Park , landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown in the 1750s and widely acknowledged to be one of his finest creations.

After lunch in the town you can do as much or as little walking around Petworth Park as you wish: some routes are suggested but you can of course wander freely around this deer park.

There is also Newlands House Art Gallery, which has a photo exhibition Eve Arnold – To Know About Women - Guardian 4* review – "legends tired, hungover and flashing their rears". Cost is £14.50.


Trains: Take the 0937 Bognor train from London Victoria (Clapham 0943, East Croydon 0954) arriving 1052. Return trains are xx24 and xx55 with 2155 being the last. Bus from Petworth is Stagecoach No 1 (£2) to Worthing, from Angel Street junction with Sheepdown Drive.
Lunch: There are no refreshment places on the walk route until you reach Petworth (12 km, 7.5 miles) There are two pubs near the town centre: the Angel Inn ( 01798-344445 ) has a fairly up-market menu; The Star ( 01798-368114 ) has a patio area on Market Square and serves traditional pub food all day at weekends. Some of the cafés and tearooms do light lunches.
Tea: on the Circular Walk is the White Hart at Stopham Bridge , a picturesque spot by the River Arun 2¼ km, 1.5m before the finish. The bus also stops near this delightful pub. There is nothing in Pulborough, apart from two takeaways, not even a shop for 'supplies'.
t=SWC.128
  • Sun, 13-Aug-23

    Just 5 off the train with one person on the next. Two more at lunch, an early starter and the walk author on a shorter trip updating the local coffee shop information, so 8. Good walking weather with one light shower. 3 of us did the long circular, though walking independently. We ended up getting the 1824,after meeting for an essential stop in Stopham. I assume the others got an earlier train.

Saturday 09-Jul-22

Dirk
t=SWC.128

Length: 26km (16m) or 15km (9m) with bus support
Toughness: 8 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:05 train from London Victoria, arriving in Pulborough at 10:20. Return trains from Pulborough at xx:24 and xx:55.

I have never done this walk, but saw Petworth House and Park on the map and always wanted to pay a visit. The gardens and deer park are free, the house requires buying a ticket. If you want to shorten the walk and spend more time at Petworth you can take the bus number 1 from Pulborough to Petworth (leaving at xx:58 opp the station, for which you could take your chance with the 9:35 from London Victoria arriving in Pulborough at 10:52) or take the same bus back from Petworth to Pulborough (leaving at 14:44, 15:49, 16:54, 18:04)

  • Tue, 05-Jul-22

    There is also Frank Auerbach: Unseen at the Newlands House Gallery

    https://newlandshouse.gallery/exhibitions/frank-auerbach-unseen (I haven't seen it, just read the review)

    "…again and again in this terrific selection in a spacious, meditative 18th-century house, you are gripped by fragments of human experience grasped so vividly and forcefully that they restore your sense of what it is to be human.”

    – Jonathan Jones, The Guardian ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆"

  • Sun, 10-Jul-22

    3 people met at the station but immediately spilt into 2+1. The 2 walked the lovely route to Petworth at a fast pace. The fish-themed lunch in the delightful garden of the Angel Inn was delicious. Afterwards we toured Petworth House and admired the large collection of paintings before looping through Petworth Park. By this time it was sunny and very hot . It was already 16:30 when we started the return to Pulborough which initially follows paths along and through fields before becoming more interesting again at Hesworth Common. After a quick re-hydration stop at the White Hart at the banks of the Arun we caught the 20:24 home at a recorded 30km, slightly longer than anticipated. A grand day out.

Sunday 17-Apr-22

Stargazer

SWC Walk 128: Pulborough to Petworth or back to Pulborough t=swc.128

Distance: Various options available:

Pulborough to Petworth (bus return): 9.6 – 11.8 miles/15.5 – 19km

Pulborough Circular via Petworth: 14.8 – 16.3 miles/ 24 – 26 km

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 for Pulborough to Petworth; 7 or 8 out of 10 for Pulborough Circular

Train: Take the 9:35 AM Portsmouth Harbour train from London Bridge (YES, London Bridge) (stopping at East Croydon at 9:53), arriving at Pulborough at 10:51. If returning from Petworth, you will need to take Stagecoach bus number 1 – it departs Petworth at 14:44; 16:44 and 18:44 and arrives at Pulborough Station at 57 past the hour. Return trains from Pulborough are at 04 past the hour until 22:04. Buy a day return to Pulborough.

This walk is a varied and interesting excursion from Pulborough to Petworth House, one of the National Trust’s most impressive properties. The outbound route takes you through some woods which are rumored to have bluebells. Once in Petworth, you can optionally explore Petworth Park. For those doing the circular route, the return route is more open with good views of the South Downs before eventually arriving on the outskirts of Pulborough at the lovely ancient bridge in Stopham. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There are two pubs and some other options in Petworth for lunch 7.5 miles/12 km into the walk (see walk notes for details). However, being Easter Sunday, I would recommend bringing some provisions as these venues may be fully booked.

For those doing the circular route, tea and other late afternoon refreshments can be had at the White Hart in Stopham (1.4 miles/2.3 km before the end) which is open until 18:00 on Sundays.

Happy Easter!

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 16-Apr-22

    Hi all

    Is someone planning to do a long circular walk tomorrow? I would like to do a kind walk tomorrow but don’t want to go on my own.

    Thank you

  • Sun, 17-Apr-22

    If you only want to do one way there are buses on Sunday departing Petworth Sheepdown Drive at 14:44, 16:44 and 18:44 towards Pulborough and Worthing, Journey time about 15 min to Pulborough Station. Walk East along New Street which becomes Angel Street. Bus stop is 200m along Angel Street at Junction with Sheepdown Drive.

    Note that the bus stop in Market Square is no longer in use for Eastbound buses. (In the past the Eastbound bus used to do a loop on the one way system.)

  • Sat, 23-Apr-22

    4 Three at the station one started at the lunch pub and walked back to meet us. W= dry_and_sunny. One went ahead to get a an early bus for part of the return route

    Two had lunch at the Star sitting outside in the sun. Food was good but my spies tell me that The Angel is the best in Petworth. A low turnout for this enjoyable walk maybe walkers had been out on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday 01-May-21

Walker
Length: 15.5km (9.6 miles) to Petworth, 19km (11.8 miles) with circuit of Petworth House grounds. T=3.128
Toughness: 6 out of 10
Longer circular walk back to Pulborough: 23.8km (14.8 miles), or 26.3km (16.3 miles) with circuit of Petworth House grounds.
9.35 train from London Bridge (note: not Victoria as usual), (9.53 East Croydon) to Pulborough, arriving 10.51. (There may be a large group of Metropolitan Walkers on this train: no fraternising! And don't worry, they are going on a totally different walk)
For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
Please sign up for this walk in advance if you can using the London Walkers User Group site. Otherwise bring a piece of paper with your email address on it, which I will collect on the day and put in an envelope, only to be accessed if needed for contact tracing. To report a Covid case after this walk, use covid@lwug.co.uk
Our resident archivist says it is seven years since this walk had an outing at this time of year, so let's hope its bluebell woods have been well cared for in the interim. The records show that it has "several medium-sized displays" of the blue stuff, scattered throughout the walk.
The walk otherwise takes you over pleasant undulating countryside to the pretty town of Petworth, which is large enough to have several possible lunch options. After lunch, you can tour the parkland of the grand (or grandiose?) Petworth House, a jewel in the National Trust crown (if you want to visit the house itself or its formal gardens, you will need to book).
Those up for a longer walk can then walk back to Pulborough, stopping en route at the charming White Hart pub by the medieval Stopham Bridge, which has lots of outside tables in a tranquil spot by the river. Pulborough itself has no tea options the I am aware of.
From Petworth you have to take bus number 1 (direction Worthing) to Pulborough station (18 minutes) at 14.39, 15.44, 16.49, 17.59, 19.09 or 19.39

Trains back from Pulborough are at 24 and 55 past the hour.
  • Sat, 01-May-21

    Oh dear, oh dear. What a lot of toil and trouble. 30 on this walk, but we were not all on the same walk. Talk of social distancing: we were miles apart.

    The story begins at 7.30am, when yours truly was wakened from his slumber by a text from a walker saying all Pulborough trains were cancelled because of unexpected track work. This proved to be the case. Cue frantic thinking up of alternative walk plans, communicating these to other walkers etc. No sooner had I done this than I was informed that Pulborough trains were un-cancelled, the track work having apparently evaporated. I then had to rescind all the emails about alternative arrangements.

    This done, I looked at my watch and realised I now did not have enough time to make the train at London Bridge. Fortunately I worked out I might just get a St Pancras train that would get to East Croydon three minutes before the specified train (even though, interestingly, it left London Bridge at exactly the same time). St Pancras was very busy - the busiest I have seen it since early March 2020. But I made the train and the connection at East Croydon.

    Relax. Breath in and out. The sun was shining. All was well.

    But all was not well. Someone decided to end their life on the track at Christ’s Hospital. Just before Gatwick we were told the train would skip the Horsham-Arundel line altogether and go fast (via Hove) to Ford. Passengers for Pulborough etc were advised to alight at Three Bridges, take a train to Horsham and await replacement bus services. High speed decision making was called for. I raced up and down the train telling any walkers I could find that we would instead stay on to Ford and walk up to the downs from there.

    No sooner had I done this than they said the first stop would be Barnham instead. So to Barnham we went, arriving there at 11.30 or so.18 got off the train here. It later transpired that seven had driven to Pulborough, so they did the specified walk. Five more negotiated the replacement bus service to Pulborough and started the walk at much the same time as we were alighting at Barnham. So 12 in all on that walk

    Guided by someone with a map - a real paper one - we Barnham-ites worked our way up onto the South Downs, a long gentle climb, there joining the Amberley to Pulborough walk, shorter afternoon option. About half the group left us here to walk the South Downs Way to Amberley. The rest of us carried on towards Pulborough. I had hoped for bluebells on this section, but they were utterly pathetic, barely out at all. Only near Stopham Bridge did we find a good wood, near full out.

    On the Pulborough Circular bluebells were reported as good too and there were even some butterflies (I saw none all day). Lunches were had in Petworth and three got the bus from there. The other nine walked on to Pulborough.

    We Barnham-ites got to the White Hart at Stopham Bridge at 5.15 or so, where we got two lovely tables on a terrace overlooking the river. Here we all had drinks and some had food. This pub seems to be under new management and has had a revamp. Table service was good but they got in a complete paddy about paying. Apparently they only reopened yesterday and were getting used to new ways of working.

    Some of the Pulborough starters passed us here and we swopped stories. It was then a pleasant walk to the station in partial evening sun. The weather all day had been mixed : we all got some rain and there was quite a lot of cloud. At times it felt very cold, with even gloves needed. But when the sun shone, as it occasionally did, you could have fooled yourself that spring had arrived.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 02-May-21

    https://www.thehazeltree.co.uk/2015/04/16/bluebell-enchantment/

  • Caroline
    Sun, 02-May-21

    What a lot of drama about the trains. After about 3 changes to the service we did board a train from London Bridge to Pulborough however part way through our journey we were diverted to Barnham because of a person on the track at Christs' Hospital. Four of us chose to take the replacement bus service to Pulborough and try to do the walk to Petworth. We arrived at Pulborough about two hours late and set off on the walk. We made it to Petworth in time to go into the gardens. The walk was lovely: plenty of bluebells, great scenery - views especially of the South Downs.

  • Sun, 02-May-21

    34 maybe, in light of Caroline’s comment.

  • Fri, 07-May-21

    Southern gave a full return refund for a 2 hours delay......

  • Fri, 07-May-21

    Southern gave a full return refund for a 2 hours delay......

Saturday 07-Sep-19

Thomas G
Length: 23.4 km (14.6 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 385 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
or longer (with a loop through Petworth Park)
Length: from 26.5 km (16.5 mi)
Net Walking Time: from ca. 6 ¼ hours
or shorter (finishing in Petworth)
15 ¼ to 18 km (9.5 to 11.2 m)
Take the 09.36 Southampton Central & Bognor Regis train from Victoria (09.43 CJ, 09.53 EC), arriving Pulborough at 10.51. [Train splits at Horsham.]
Return trains : xx.24 and xx.55.
Return buses from Petworth to Pulborough (Line 1 from Midhurst to Worthing): 14.44, 15.49, 16.54, 18.04, 19.14, 19.44 [Note: the buses do not leave from the Market Square anymore (apart from the last bus of the day), but ‘On A283 Angel Street, near Sheepdown Drive’. You may have to ask locally where that is…]
Across the Arun valley and Greensand Hills to an attractive town with one of the National Trust's finest properties, Petworth House. Back to Pulborough on a more southerly route between the A283 and the Rother valley, with views of the South Downs along the way. This is a mixed landscape of farmland and wooded commons, with Hesworth Common being particularly attractive. The route passes two fine old churches at Fittleworth and Stopham, and crosses back over the River Arun on the medieval Stopham Bridge.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here .
Lunch: Angel Inn (food served all day) or The Star (food served all day) in Petworth.
Tea: Plenty options in Petworth and The White Hart in Stopham (2.3 km from the end). T=swc.128.a
  • Mr Marc Ricketts
    Thu, 29-Aug-19

    I Thought you take the Train from London Waterloo to Southampton. On that way?

  • Thu, 29-Aug-19

    Hi Marc, this one goes via the slower line to Southampton, from Victoria. The faster one from Waterloo does not go via Pulborough...

  • Mon, 09-Sep-19

    19 on this delightful walk. 18 were counted at the station and one joined us in the woods to do a circular walk from Fittleworth. Weather was cloudy then sunny .

    Some people had lunch in Petworth Park, others in the Star, and at least one walker had lunch in the Angel Inn. Quite a few enjoyed a lovely drink at the White Hart at the end of the walk in mellow evening sunshine.

    This lovely walk was enlivened by encounters with live stock – to wit a horse chewing away at a signpost, a bellowing bull and cows crossing from one field into another.

Saturday 19-Aug-17

Thomas G
SWC Walk 128a – Pulborough Circular (via Petworth Park)
Length: 26.5 km (16.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 440 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
OR
SWC Walk 128 – Pulborough to Petworth
Length: 18.0 km (11.2 mi) [shorter walk possible]
Ascent/Descent: 280 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Take the 09.06 Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria, arriving Pulborough at 10.17 (you have to be in the rear part of the train, as it splits in Horsham)
Return trains: xx.23 and xx.55 to 18.23, then 19.05, 19.35, 19.59, 20.36, 21.36, 22.38, 23.08.
“ Across the Arun valley and Greensand Hills to an attractive town with one of the National Trust's finest properties: Petworth House (National Trust, ticketed entry) set in Petworth Park (free to enter). After lunch in Petworth you can do as much or as little walking through the deer park and the village as you wish. Three suggested routes through Petworth Park are briefly described.
For a longer outing, we’ll complete a Circular Walk back to Pulborough on a more southerly route between the A283 and the Rother valley, with views of the South Downs along the way. This is a mixed landscape of farmland and wooded commons, with Hesworth Common being particularly attractive. The route passes two fine old churches at Fittleworth and Stopham, and crosses back over the River Arun on the medieval Stopham Bridge (with the lovely White Hart pub next to it).
On the short walk, and if you want to abandon the long walk in the afternoon, you will need to catch a Stagecoach 1 bus to return to Pulborough station (hourly service) [The afternoon route is never far from the A283 and you could catch the same bus from Byworth, Fittleworth or Stopham.]”
Lunch:
The Angel Inn in Petworth (12.0 km/7.5 mi, food to 14.30);
The Star in Petworth (12.0 km/7.5 mi, food to 15.00).
Tea :
Audit Room Café at Petworth House (NT);
Plenty of options in Petworth;
The White Hart at Stopham Bridge (2.3 km from the end);
The Banyan Tree restaurant (300m beyond the station);
The Oddfellows Arms (1.2 km beyond the station);
The Chequers Hotel (650m beyond the station).
For walk directions, map, height profile , photos and gpx/kml files click here .
T=swc.128.a
  • Anonymous
    Thu, 17-Aug-17

    A few plan to take the later train at 10.06 and finish at Petworth.

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 17-Aug-17

    Later train sounds good. I am tempted. However, the walk is 3 hrs to Petworth, that means arriving Petworth at 2:30pm. Will that be too late for pub lunch. Alternatively, 9:36 am train maybe a compromise. Any takers?

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 19-Aug-17

    9 is the new10.

  • Sat, 19-Aug-17

    10 off the 10.06 I've been told when we (the vanguard of the 9.06 mob) bumped into some of them in Petworth...

    15 off the 09.06, none (we suspect) off the train inbetween, so I make that 25 (msg for early posters of part-walk reports: the nequalsnumber thingie is best reserved for the total number of walkers, so that it feeds into the stats correctly; ta) in sunny with passing clouds weather, i.e.: as usual better than forecast.

    A good day for this walk, as it lives off the South Downs views to a degree, combined with lots of woods (some plantations amongst them though), pretty, remote cottages and several water features. Plus Petworth Town, Park and House. A lovely mix.

    The faster walkers got to the Angel Inn before 13.00 hours and found a shady table in the pretty courtyard. All indoor tables were reserved, presumably for the v large wedding party that started to assemble while we were there.

    The not so fast walkers ended up in the Star.

    Off to the park, where we walked the medium length route, back to town and on to Pulborough. Some good heather displays in Hesworth Common, a tea stop at The White Hart (which serves wine from the very local Stopham Vineyard), then the 17.55 train.

    One cuckoo heard en route...

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 19-Aug-17

    More than 1/2 of walkers did the morning session plus a stroll in Petworth estate, then took 4:45pm bus to Pulborough to catch 5:24pm train. 4 on 4:45pm bus got off at Fittleworth to continue with walk to Pulborough. At least 2 caught earlier bus. Only 4 fast walkers did the full walk.

  • Well-meaning busybody
    Sun, 20-Aug-17

    An experiment to see what would happen if I copied, deleted, and reposted this comment with a partial number in without the n. Will the 25 magically take over from the 9?

    #3 Anonymous, Sat 19 Aug 17, 17:30

    £1 £1 £1

    Absolutely chuffed to get off so lightly on the bus fare

    Mr Miser

    PS 9 on the 10.06 out of Victoria

  • Sun, 20-Aug-17

    To explain the bus fare comment, a number of us got on the 4.45pm bus. Half way through charging us for our fares the ticket machine went into meltdown. A bizarre scene ensued in which the driver pulled reams and reams and reams of ticket paper out of the machine and got increasingly flustered. Finally he waved the last few passengers onto the bus but said "You will not travel for free". A little way out of town he stopped the bus and fiddled with the machine a second time and finally charged those who had not been able to buy a ticket earlier £1 each, rather than the correct £4 something fare: maybe this was the only ticket he could get the machine to print?

    Those of us who got off at Fittleworth had a nice walk down to the pub at Stopham Bridge, a drink in the pleasant sunshine, and then a lovely walk over the hill to Pulborough. This was a good way of shortening the walk, I think. In the interests of research (and to fill time before our train) we walked down into downtown Pulborough - an ugly place - where the former pub, now an Indian restaurant called the Banyan Tree, did indeed seem to have a cafe attached to it - The Swan Cafe - but we did not go in, as our train was due.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 20-Aug-17

    Wren and pied wagtail spotted on this super undulating walk through this scenic walk of West Sussex. Fine views of the South Downs as advertised and more flexible Lunch time options with the Star (under new management) now serving food to 5:00pm

    After a stroll around the Upper Pond in Petworth Park, some caught the 5:55pm No.1 bus and those with FP's turned the ticket machine lights green without any ado. Unfortunately the ticket machine was functioning perfectly for the younger person who had to fork out £4 + for here fare :-(

    Other SWC walkers were spotted in the gardens of the "White Hart" at Stopham enjoying the evening sun and refreshments as the bus sped us on to Pulborough after a delightful day out.

  • Sun, 20-Aug-17

    # Well-meaning busybody:

    That's what I have done in the past, I always assume it does the trick, as long as it happens before webmaster does his 'stats run'. Webbie was talking about setting up the magic routine in such a way that it captures the higher of all nequalsnumber thingies, but whether he has done so...?

Saturday 11-Jun-16

Sean
Extra Walk 128 – Pulborough to Petworth
Length: 15¼ to 18¼ km (9.5 to 11.3 miles). Toughness: 5/10

09:06 Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:12, East Croydon 09:23), arriving Pulborough at 10:17. You need to be in the rear portion, for Bognor Regis. Buy a return to Pulborough.

There's no station in Petworth. Unless you choose to complete a much longer circular walk (see below), you'll need to catch the Stagecoach 1 bus (towards Worthing, not Midhurst) for the 15-minute journey back to Pulborough station. It leaves from Market Square at 45 minutes past the hour to 16:45, then at 17:55 and 18:57 (last bus).

Return trains from Pulborough to Victoria are at 23 & 55 minutes past the hour until 18:23, then 19:05 and hourly from 19:35.

This year is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot “Capability” Brown so it seems appropriate to have a walk ending at one of his finest creations, Petworth Park. If you're a member of the National Trust (or pay the entry fee) you can visit Petworth House (which currently has an exhibition about him) but there's no charge to enter the beautifully landscaped deer park.

Petworth is a three-hour walk from Pulborough station, so bring some provisions if you think you might need a mid-morning snack before reaching the lunch pub in the town. If you visit the house and/or park you'll probably feel like calling it a day and catching the bus, but directions are included for a full circular walk back to Pulborough if you have the energy. In fact the return route is never far from the bus route and with a bit of planning you could take the bus to (say) Fittleworth or Stopham Bridge and walk the rest of the way, or vice versa.

You'll need to print the walk directions (with details of Petworth's lunch and tea places) from the Extra Walk 128 page. If you don't plan to do the long circular walk, clicking the 'Main Walk' option will significantly reduce the amount printed. T=swc.128
  • Anonymous
    Sun, 12-Jun-16

    23 walkers on this walk which was very good with woods and fields and no rain. The weather was overcast occasional sun

    Little to report,most seemed to lunch at The Star which is apparently far better than previously - that doesn't say much for how it used to be then. They had a special of local fish but the sea is miles away ?

    Some walked back whilst others got the bus back to Pullborough, some toured Petworth park, some looked around Petworth House, some went for a meal in the local town Tillington and that is enough somes

    C Worthy

  • Mon, 13-Jun-16

    Also 1 walked to Fittleworth and at least 2 were walking all the way back to Pulborough.

  • Anonymous
    Tue, 14-Jun-16

    i thought that the star pub wes excellent. Rather surprised by the down beat remark about it. I got the bus to Fittleworth and walked back from there. A beautiful end to the walk

  • Karen
    Tue, 14-Jun-16

    Can confirm that at least two completed the circular back to Pulborough, with a diversion for refreshments to the The Horse Guards Inn at Tillington (not far beyond the walls of Petworth Park). Also took refreshments at The White Hart at Stopham Bridge. I know Petworth House and Park were the main attractions of the walk, but the highlight for me was the bridge at Stopham. Amazing! Worth the extra kilometers. Made it back to Pulborough in time for the 19:35.

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 16-Jun-16

    Four made it to Tillington for dinner at the Horseguards Inn. What time did we get back to London? I don't know but the tube was still running, (does that help?) although it felt way past my bedtime. We missed the 20.36 from Pulborough station, (why?) because our taxi driver decided he'd rather watch the footie than come and collect us from the pub to take us to the station, and the 20.36 was the last direct London train that Southern kindly provided from Pulborough that evening. However we got a free ride from Pulborough station to Gatwick station from the "no show" taxi company, after we camped out in their office, and piled on to the Gatwick Express for the final leg to London. Phew.