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SOUTH DOWNS WALKS NATIONAL PARK From rolling hills to bustling market towns, the MIDHURST South Downs National Park’s landscapes cover 1,600km² of breathtaking views, hidden gems and quintessentially English scenery. A rich Belted Galloway tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity © SDNPA/Bruce Middleton and visitor attractions, weave together a story of people and place in harmony. For your guide to everything there is Woolbeding Bridge dates back to the early medieval to see and do in the National Park visit period. The Woolbeding Estate, which includes southdowns.gov.uk/discovery-map Woolbeding and Pound Commons is owned by the National Trust. Keep up to date with the latest news and events from The fields around here may be grazed by Herdwick the South Downs National Park. sheep and cattle or sometimes by belted southdowns.gov.uk/newsletter Galloway cattle, a small hardy breed happy to graze rough vegetation as well as grass. During the summer months the National Trust’s beautiful Woolbeding Gardens is open for pre-booked visits. Due to limited parking at the site you must book and take a minibus from the Grange Centre car park in Midhurst. Check nationaltrust.org.uk/ woolbeding-gardens for details.

South Downs Centre gift shop YOUR COUNTRYSIDE CODE: © SDNPA RESPECT. PROTECT. ENJOY. SOUTH DOWNS CENTRE – Respect other people VISITOR INFORMATION • Leave gates and property as you find them • Keep to the paths unless on Open Access Land As well as being home to the National Park Protect the natural environment Authority, the South Downs Centre in Midhurst is a • Take your litter home community hub, an exhibition about the National • Keep dogs under effective control Park, a small gift shop and a green conference centre. Local visitor information is provided as Enjoy the outdoors well as leaflets providing walking routes • Plan ahead and be prepared throughout the National Park. • Follow advice and local signs GODALMING TUNBRIDGE

River Rother near Midhurst WELLS National Park Area MIDHURST Railway Station The magnificent Cowdray fifteenth century. During MIDHURST ruins dominate the water the 1880’s, author H G SOUTHAMPTON LEWES meadows in the thriving Wells resided in the house market town of Midhurst beside the Angel Hotel © SDNPA/Daniel Greenwood BRIGHTON & HOVE and were visited by Henry and some of his early PORTSMOUTH BOGNOR REGIS VIII and . Their novels are based on the existence today, thanks Midhurst area. FIND YOUR WAY to restoration following a Follow the arrows on waymarkers. devastating fire in 1793, Today, the distinctive give many clues to life in yellow window frames Tudor times. seen on some buildings is Footpath the signature colour of the The Angel Hotel on North Cowdray Estate. Bridleway Street, dates back to the Restricted byway Byway  Open access land National Trail Acorn

TAKE THE LEAD For a safe and fun visit with your dog please remember to keep them on a lead around livestock, horses and wildlife. Always bag and bin your dog poo – any public bin will do!

GETTING HERE CONTACT By bus: There are regular South Downs National Above: Grey Wagtail services to Midhurst, visit Park Authority: © Derek Middleton Right: Banded demoiselle www.traveline.info/se 01730 814810 © Derek Middleton @SDNPA /SDNPA southdownsnp RIVER ROTHER © SDNPA Look out for the flowers flash of a kingfisher or SOUTHDOWNS.GOV.UK

of pink purslane and a bobbing grey wagtail Front cover image: The Cowdray Ruins and river crowfoot during along fast flowing river Rother, Midhurst © SDNPA. Details correct at time of going to print. Please spring walks along the stretches. During the be aware that routes are shared with Please other users (vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, river Rother. The wetland summer months beautiful horses etc) and users of this route do so recycle me at their own risk. We do not accept any after use around the boardwalk is blue banded demoiselles, responsibility for loss, damage or injury, full of reedmace, willow a type of damselfly, however caused, arising directly or indirectly from use of this leaflet. Contains Ordnance and rushes. You may also gather in large numbers Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013. be lucky to spot the quick by the river.

All Saints church in East Meon village Hill leading to Market Square St Ann’s SDNPA/The Way Design/September 2019. © SDNPA Crown copyright WOOLBEDING DISTANCE: GR ADIENT: 10 miles (16 km) One moderate climb. Uneven and AND potentially muddy underfoot ALLOW: TRAIL: 4.5 – 5.5 hours

From the main Midhurst bus stop Continue to the road, cross it Turn right at the next footpath 1head up North Street, then at the 7and follow the footpath. At the 13junction and continue to the top of the hill turn right onto June Lane. next junction turn right and follow next waymarker. the fence. At the Half Moon pub bear Turn left through the hedge and 2right taking the footpath At the next junction turn right, 14left again by the allotments. towards Woolbeding. 8past Eastshaw Farm, then turn left at the next footpath, cross two fields At the cemetery turn right Keeping to the field edge, go and enter the chestnut coppice. 15down to the road, then turn left 3through two kissing gates, two crossing the road at the corner. small field gates and then bear left Take the footpath to your right to follow the track through the trees to 9at the next junction, then turn right With the Farm Shop on your the road. Turn right here and go over down the lane, taking the next footpath 16right, follow the path to Cowdray the medieval Woolbeding Bridge. on the left. ruins, then take the footpath across the causeway to the right which returns to Continue along the road, then take Follow the footpath, crossing the bus stop near North Street car park. 4the National Trust footpath on the 10the road, then continue down left towards the river. Follow the river the next lane to the A286. Turn right Rother until you join a footpath, turn left. and walk along the road. Open Access Land Cross over the stile and bridges, Take the next path on the left Wherever you see this symbol 5then at the stile opposite 11which doubles back parallel you are free to leave the footpath Mill turn right up the hill to the road. to the road. to walk and picnic within the mapped area. Please be aware Turn right onto the road, then Turn right at the footpath and of livestock and wildlife. 6take the next footpath on the left. 12follow the field edge. Follow the field edge round and at the next stile turn right.

KEY: Point of interest Bridleway POUND 8 FARM Pub Footpath GREAT Y COMMON Toilets Restricted byway A EASTSHAW W FARM Bus stop Woodland S I 7 HOLIST H WOODGATE Trail point Buildings C COMMON P FARM I Road Open access land L

9 6 (in shaded area) W Long distance trail 8 E 10 2

N 6 A WOOLBEDING 12 5 11 STEDHAM 13 MILL 14 15 LIPCH W IS E W N A EASEBOURNE 4 Y HALF MOON A2 16 A272 BENBOW STEDHAM 72 1 COMMON 3 COWDRAY POND RUINS SERPE 2 NT COWDRAY T MIDHURST HOUSE R A R IL COMMON IV MIDHURST E MAP REF: R Find this area R O on OS Explorer 0 0.5 miles TH N ER OL33 1km 0 0.25 miles N 6 MAP REF: 500m Find this area WA on OS Explorer IS Y 6 WOOLBEDING H C 8 OL33 P 2 HOUSE AND I 5 L A GARDENS

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E 4 A N 2 7 EASEBOURNE 2 7 3 N E W L MIDHURST IP C ROTHER H IS COLLEGE W 2 AY JUNE 8 LA N T 9 E E E HALF 1 R A272 T MOON S 2 1 H COWDRAY T R ANGEL RUINS O HOTEL

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L I WALLED A 4 3 R MIDHURST GARDEN T

T 5 N E SPREAD P R MIDHURST EAGLE GRANGE W LIPCHIS E E WA S COMMON CENTRE N Y RIVER ROTHER WALK COWDRAY RUINS TRAIL: GR ADIENT: AND ST ANN’S HILL Uneven ground, 1 stile, DISTANCE: raised boardwalk TRAIL: GR ADIENT: 2.8 miles (4.5km) Uneven ground, muddy DISTANCE: in places, steep ascent to 1.1miles (1.7km) ALLOW: 1–2 hours St Ann’s hill ALLOW: 0.5 –1 hour

Opposite the main At the National Trust From the bus stop near fort and a Norman castle. 1Midhurst bus stop head 6gate you are welcomed 1to the North Street car Modern day Midhurst down North Street towards into Woolbeding Parkland. park head through the gate developed around this site. towards the Cowdray ruins Easebourne passing South Cross the field on the Below the remains go Downs National Park footpath with the folly on across the causeway. Make a short detour here to take 4through the gate and Authority visitor centre and your left into Whiphill wood. down a side street, called St the . in the ruins or to visit the Leave the wood, crossing beautiful Walled Garden Ann’s Hill, into the market Turn left on the footpath 7a field to the right of a (free) and cafe. square where you can still 2marked Rother Walk/New large oak tree. see the old stocks. There are Lipchis Way towards the river. Just before you get to the many historic buildings to Turn left at the next gate, 2river bridge turn right and admire including the church, Continue on the shaded 8leaving the Rother Walk. follow the field edge with the originally part of the castle, 3path with the river on Take the footpath through river on your left until you get and the Spread Eagle hotel, your right which opens out to another gate and through to a kissing gate (Note: cattle one of ’s oldest a flood plain on your left. a kissing gate emerging on are sometimes grazing here). coaching inns. the A272 near to the Half The path soon joins a Moon pub. Enter the woodland Turn right and follow the 4raised boardwalk over 3and either climb the 5pavement around past a boggy area rich with Turn left and carefully steps straight ahead (or the old Town Hall to the wetland plants. 9follow June Lane to continue to the left along high street where you turn North Street, turning left to the river until you reach an right to return to the start. Arrive at a field edge. return to your starting point. open area and follow the 5 Turn right and continue path uphill to the right) to following the Rother Walk St Ann’s hill where, if you along two further fields with look carefully, you will find the river below on the right. the remains of an Iron Age