INTRODUCTION

This booklet has been produced to help guide visitors through a beautiful and unspoilt part of West within the National Park. The Octagon Parish is made up of eight villages with churches: Stansted, , Stoughton, , , , Compton and Forestside and two villages without churches: and . Blessed with wonderful walks and fine views down to the south coast, its small ancient downland churches are noted for their spiritual peace and tranquility, some dating back to Saxon times. There are two stately homes in the area: Stansted House and Uppark. To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, The Octagon decided to establish a long circular walking route using existing footpaths and bridleways to link all the villages together. This is called The Octagon Way and is about 18 miles long. There are also eight circular Octagon Short Walks of 2–4 miles each.

GET THE No 54 BUS Why not reduce parking pressure and help • Please take your litter home with you. to conserve this beautiful National Park by • Wildlife: Please do not disturb or harm using the local bus service. The no.54 bus any wild animals. passes through the area – 5 times daily • Photograph wildflowers but leave them except Sunday – making it possible to bus unpicked and untrampled for others to and walk. Find out more about local buses enjoy. in the contacts section at the back. • Take care on public roads. Some routes do involve walking along or Parking: Apart from Stansted Park Garden crossing roads. Centre there are very few official car parks in The Octagon. This booklet gives guidance • Remember that wild animals, farm where you can park for each walk. animals and horses can behave unpredictably – so give them plenty of Environment: Please help us to care for space. this beautiful place by following a few simple guidelines: • Remember that footpaths are only open for walkers • Close gates behind you. , whilst bridleways are open to walkers, cyclists and horse- • Keep your dogs under close control at riders. all times to protect livestock, wildlife and your dog!

Page 2 OCTAGON WAY

ROUTE: 4. Cross field diagonally. Pass through gate and cross next field to corner by 1. From Stansted Park Garden Centre car a former watermill. Cross stile. Turn left park, walk 90 yards towards main  onto lane. Cross small bridge, and  entrance and turn left at footpath turn right  onto grass path parallel fingerpost. Cross meadow, enter new with River Ems. Lordington House, an planting of broadleaved trees. At 3-way elegant 17th Century house (not open to fingerpost turn left , pass through public) is on left. Cross two more stiles kissing gate. Follow path diagonally over and continue straight ahead for 100 field, cross stile and continue ahead. yards. Cross stile. Walk down slope to 2. At next kissing gate turn left  onto lane. Woodlands Lane. Turn right . Continue uphill to Racton Monument (on 5. At main road, turn left . After a few right). yards, cross the road into Cooks Lane Note: Racton Monument was built and walk into Walderton. between 1766 & 1775 by the owners 6. At first footpath fingerpost turn left up of Stansted House. It has a history of a narrow footpath between houses. Turn lavish parties, smuggling and was right  along Monarch’s Way. Cross used by the Home Guard in World lane and continue uphill to Inholmes War II. Wood. Walk downhill with St Peter’s Church 7. At edge of wood turn right  on below (on right). At end of lane pass bridleway down to Stoughton. Bear left. metal gate to main road. Note: To visit St Mary’s 11th Century Note: To visit St Peter’s Church Racton: Saxon church turn sharp left  up turn right  and walk 250 yards church path. along the main road. 8. Walk to village notice board; continue 3. Turn left  along main road for 220 along lane past pub out of village. yards – beware there is no pavement and there may be fast-moving traffic. 9. After 500 yards turn left  at footpath Turn left  at footpath fingerpost. Cross fingerpost. Follow path uphill for 500 stile into field – please keep dogs on yards towards Inholmes Wood. leads and don’t feed or disturb horses.

Page 6 10. Turn right  at footpath fingerpost. box turn left  at footpath fingerpost Continue for a mile along headland, and sign to church. then through woods. Note: St Mary’s 12th Century 11. Turn left  onto bridleway and continue Church North Marden: originally a to edge of wood. Turn right  at chapel of ease to East Marden footpath fingerpost. After 300 yards go 17. From church (on right) follow path steeply down to the lane. downhill. At bottom right corner of field 12. Cross lane at diagonal, follow footpath pass between wire fences (keep wood fingerpost into field. Turn left , then on left). At footpath fingerpost turn left diagonally across field towards distant . After 150 yards turn right . electricity pylon. Cross stile and follow 18. Leave woods, continue uphill with hedge path with hedge (on right). Cross two on left of path. Follow edge of field more stiles. After second, follow hedge to gap in hedge at field end. Ignore (on left) to East Marden. footpath on left and continue uphill along 13. Cross stile, then through farmyard to path through narrow woods between fingerpost. Turn left . Follow farm track fields, to stile. 40 yards to next fingerpost. Turn right 19. Cross stile at 4-way fingerpost. Turn left . Follow path between houses to post  along edge of pine copse. At end box on lane. Turn right . of field cross stile into Long Lane. Turn Note: To visit the 12th Century right . After 150 yards turn left  at Church of St Peter’s in East Marden footpath fingerpost and pass through turn left  for 100 yards. The thatched kissing gate. village well was the sole source of 20. Follow fence line (on right) steadily up water until 1924. It has an unusual Apple Down. The small copse on top of square winding wheel and is 200 ft Apple Down marks the site of an Anglo deep. Saxon cemetery – replaced in Victorian 14. Follow lane 70 yards up to footpath times by a water reservoir. Cross stile fingerpost. Turn left and follow path at end of field. On clear days there are through hedge. Cross stile and bear fine views south to Portsmouth and Isle of diagonally across field. Cross another Wight. stile and farm track then continue ahead 21. Continue across large arable field to on path climbing gently along left-hand distant right corner of tree line near Up edge of the large open field. Trees on Marden. Do not turn left at footpath left give way to open fields. Continue marker post. Continue ahead with uphill to top of slope. hedgerow on left. At far left corner of 15. At hedgerow, cross stile and enter Long field join bridleway. Lane along which it is said Roman tax Note: To visit St Michael’s Church Up collectors used to pass. Turn left  and Marden turn left  along bridleway continue to ‘Fourways’ crossroads. then right  after cart shed into 16. Turn right  follow lane uphill and churchyard. through North Marden. Just after post Page 7 B2141

KEY OCTAGON WAY Public house Bus stops Incline Uppark North View St Mary’s Marden Church Walk B2141 Footpath B2146 Bridleway Walks

Four Ways Crossroad Long Lane Compton Apple Telegraph Down St Mary’s Hill West Hanger Telegraph House Wood St Peter’s Village Well East Marden

St Michael’s Up Marden West Marden Locksash Lane

Oldhouse Lane Inholmes Wood Forestside Lodge Farm B2146

Christchurch Forestside

h’s arc St Mary’s Mon Stoughton

Monarch’s Way Cooks Lane ms Woodlands er E Woodlands Riv Stansted Lane Lane Stansted House Walderton St Paul’s Chapel Stansted Park Start/Finish Garden Centre Lordington Rowlands House Castle rail station Racton 1½ miles Monument Racton from Stansted House St Peter’s B2147 B2146

Funtington

B2147 B2141

Uppark North St Mary’s Marden

B2141 B2146

Four Ways Crossroad Long Lane Compton Apple Telegraph Down St Mary’s Hill West Hanger Telegraph House Wood St Peter’s Village Well East Marden

St Michael’s Up Marden West Marden Locksash Lane

Oldhouse Lane Inholmes Wood Forestside Lodge Farm B2146

Christchurch Forestside

h’s arc St Mary’s Mon Stoughton

Monarch’s Way Cooks Lane ms Woodlands er E Woodlands Riv Lane Stansted Distance: 18 miles. Lane Time: 8 to 9 hours. Stansted House Walderton Access: An undulating walk with St Paul’s Chapel over 20 stiles, various gates; some steep ascents and declines. Stansted Park Start/Finish Garden Centre Lordington Getting there: The Octagon Rowlands House Way begins and ends at Stansted Castle House – you can get there by car, rail station Racton Monument bike or even walk the 1½ miles from 1½ miles Racton Rowlands Castle rail station. from Stansted House St Peter’s Parking: When starting from B2146 Stansted House, use the Garden B2147 Centre car park, open 0900 – 1800hrs after which you can drive out but not return. Bus stops: Racton, Walderton, WestFuntington Marden, Compton and Littlegreen.

B2147 22. Turn right , downhill towards Compton path on left through woodland bearing with view of Uppark (on right). right  at marker post. 23. At bottom of hill path bears left  and 31. Follow marker post straight across right  at fingerpost, then uphill between field, with hedge close to right-hand fields. Pass through wooded area and side. Cross Oldhouse Lane and take continue uphill between arable fields. bridleway with fingerpost and hedge now on left. 24. At the 4-way fingerpost cross bridleway and follow footpath downhill. Path 32. Continue along bridleway to Lodge crosses hedge line, then descends very Farm. Pass farm house on left. Enter field steeply on edge of grass meadow with by fingerpost. Follow track across field; views of Compton Down ahead. enter wood at 4-way fingerpost. 25. Leave meadow; bear right  at the Note: To visit Christchurch Forestside: 4-way fingerpost, and follow bridleway Turn right  at 4-way fingerpost and into Compton. follow footpath outside woodland on edge of field for about 350 yards. Note: To visit St Mary’s Church Enter wood at joining footpath and turn Compton – at end of bridleway on right  at next fingerpost. Continue for right climb steps and follow path to 60 yards to field gate. Turn left  and church. follow marker and footpath for 650 26. From village square turn left  at pub. yards inside wood to road. Cross road Walk 200 yards along road to The Old to visit church. Return back along same Post Office (now a private home). Turn path to the 4-way fingerpost to rejoin right  across road. The Octagon Way. 27. Climb block steps; follow diagonal path 33. From 4-way fingerpost continue south across field; through pine woodland; along bridleway (conservation woodland cross next field uphill; up bank by on right) until you emerge from forest. footpath fingerpost, through tall swing 34. Continue south and after ¾ mile pass gate into West Hanger Wood (used for through a latch gate. Further on, pass pheasant breeding). Climb steeply uphill through a second gate which takes you past cross-track footpath fingerpost, then onto access road to Stansted Estate through second swing gate into field. offices. 28. Follow diagonal path to fingerpost; take 35. Turn left  along road and after 100 farm track opposite steeply downhill. yards, turn right  along footpath with 29. Cross stile near field gate and dew Stansted House on left. Return to Stansted pond. Turn sharp left  at fingerpost and car park. follow fence line to another stile where Note: To see St Paul’s Chapel Stansted path enters woods. Follow path over two take left track before car park. Visits more stiles (ignoring private gate on right) can be arranged with Stansted House. to West Marden. For further information on St Paul’s 30. At the main road, turn left  for a few Chapel and the churches noted in this yards and then sharp right  across booklet visit: the road. Cross stile at 2-way fingerpost www.sussexparishchurches.org and enter field. Follow path shown by right-hand pointer uphill through field to wood. Cross another stile and follow Page 10 USEFUL CONTACTS South Downs National Park Authority West Marden: Marden Down self-catering www.southdowns.gov.uk cottages. Tel: (02392) 631729 Tel: (01730) 814810 www.mardendown.co.uk Email: [email protected] Watergate: Grandwood House www.grandwoodhouse.co.uk Stansted House: www.stanstedpark.co.uk Tel: (07971) 845153 Tel: (02392) 412265 Adsdean Farm Self-Catering Cottages: www.adsdean.co.uk The Pavilion Tea Room www.paviliontearoom.co.uk Tel: (01243) 575464 Tel: (02392) 413432 Compton: Apiary Cottage Stansted Park Garden Centre: Tel: (02392) 631306 www.apiarycottagebandb.co.uk www.stanstedparkgardencentre.co.uk Tel: (02392) 413090 Compton: Compton Farm Cottages Uppark House and Gardens: Tel: (02392) 631597 www.cottages4you.co.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark Tel: (01730) 825415 Compton: Hundred Acre Barn & District Bus and Coach Company Tel: (02392) 631413 (No 54 Bus Service to Petersfield): email: [email protected] www.emsworthanddistrict.co.uk Compton: The Old Clubhouse Tel: (01243) 378337 Tel: (02392) 631505 Compton Shop & Tea Room: Compton: Pepper Pot Cottage www.southdowns-tearoom.co.uk Tel: (07717) 473168 Tel: (02392) 631144 www.pepperpotcottage.co.uk Up Marden: Orchard Barn PUBS Tel: (01243) 535266 Walderton: The Barley Mow www.orchardbarnwestsussex.co.uk www.thebarleymow.pub Tel: (02392) 631321 EMERGENCY SERVICES Stoughton: The Hare & Hounds NB: Mobile telephone coverage is restricted in some www.hareandhoundspub.co.uk areas of The Octagon Police 999 Tel: (02392) 631433 Damage: In case of damage to gates, signs or Compton: The Coach & Horses misuse of footpaths contact: www.coachandhorsescompton.com www.westsussex.gov.uk/prow Tel: (02392) 631228 Taxi Services: Dunnaways (01243) 782403; West Marden: The Victoria Inn Michaela (02392) 472782 www.victoriainnwestmarden.co.uk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tel: (02392) 631330 Hooksway: The Royal Oak Thanks to the South Downs National Park Authority, www.royaloakhooksway.co.uk the Ministry of Design agency, County Tel: (01243) 535257 Council, The Octagon Community and the many local walkers who helped describe and test each B&Bs & SELF-CATERING COTTAGES walk. Lordington House B&B: hamiltonjanda@ MEASUREMENTS & TIMES btinternet.com Tel: (01243) 375862 All measurements including time to complete Pitlands Farm: individual walks are approximate and for guidance www.pitlandsbarns.co.uk only. Short distances are in yards (1 yard = 0.91 Tel: (02392) 631263 metre) and long distances in miles (1 mile = 1.6km). West Marden Farmhouse: www.keepers.holidaycottageswestsussex.com Tel: (02392) 631761 © The Octagon Parish. Every attempt has been made to ensure details are correct at time of going to print. The Octagon Parish cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for loss, damage or injury, however caused, arising from use of this leaflet. Contains Ordnance Survey data. © Crown copyright and database right 2013.