[From 2/10 (16.1 km /10.0 mi) with 213m ascent/descent to 9/10 (30.0 km /18.6 mi) with 716m ascent/descent.]
Length 25.5 km (15.9 mi)
Ascent/descent: 520m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
Take the 09.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo
(09.25 Woking), change at Petersfield (same platform, 10.04/10.13),
arriving Rowlands Castle at 10.23.
From Clapham J, take the 08.52 stopping service to Portsmouth &
Southsea, direct to Rowlands.
Later trains would be sufficient for the short walk.
Return trains: xx.58 (change
at Petersfield to cut 18 minutes journey time to Waterloo).
This demanding West Sussex walk in the undulating
western part of the South Downs is characterised initially by a mixture of
park- and woodland, then steep lonely valleys and some far views to the main
South Downs Ridge.It starts off towards Stansted House along a 1.5 km-long
beech avenue – one of the best in England according to Pevsner, and then heads
north along the easterly edge of Stansted Forest and across fields via the
hamlets of West, Up and East Marden to a very remote pub in Hooksway, with particularly
nice views on the route between the hamlets, including up to the northern
escarpment of the South Downs.From lunch you climb back out of the secluded
valley on a westerly route to Compton, from where another couple of hills need
to be crossed to finish along the westerly edge of Stansted Forest back into
Rowlands Castle, with its teashop and a choice of pubs.
The walk (especially the extended version) features several sustained, steep climbs and descents.
Walk Options:
A shortcut around lunch cuts 9.4 km
and 307m ascent/descent.
An extension after lunch adds 3.4 km and 162m ascent/descent. It follows
a lonely, narrow, wood-fringed valley to the main northerly escarpment of the
South Downs and then follows one of the most undulating sections of the South
Downs Way with unrivalled far views from Pen Hill and Beacon Hill, making this
a real challenge.
All three routes share the start, up to West
Marden, and the end, from Compton.
Bus Service 54 (Petersfield – Chichester) serves West Marden
(the early lunch stop) and Compton (the late lunch/early tea stop),
about every two hours, to late afternoon (last at 16.37/16.39).
Lunch: The Victoria Inn in West Marden (6.3 km/3.9 mi, open all day, food all day); The Royal
Oak in Hooksway (12.6 km/7.9 mi, food to 14.00), The
Coach & Horses in Compton (8.7 km/5.4 mi on the short
walk, it looks as if this pub is still closed!).
Tea: Darcy’s Tea Room in Compton (7.4 km/4.6 mi from the end, open to 17.00), plus
three pubs and a café in Rowlands Castle; check page 2 of the
walk directions pdf.
For summary, walk directions, map,
height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.68
7 comments:
Rowlands Castle is in Hampshire.
Pedant ‘s corner: the Sussex border runs along the minor road skirting the east of the village and passing the Castle Inn, so over 99% of the walk is in Sussex
I was focusing on Rowlands Castle rather than the walk itself. I stand corrected.
Now i might do the Walk on Saturday. But I can't Gurantee i will. But if you take the 08:45 Train from London Waterloo instead of 09:00. I noticed on the Website. That you can get a Ticket a little bit Cheaper.
Have booked a table for 4 at Royal Oak for 1pm under 'Tanya'. 3 spaces available.
On a whim the walks inspector decided to see if he could remember anything of the original Rowlands Castle Circular, last tackled about 15 years ago (as it turned out, he couldn't). Gratefully accepting the walk poster's suggestion of a more civilised train for this Short Walk option Рwhich as usual hadn't tempted anyone else Рhe set off an hour behind the group and had a pleasant time in the warm sunshine. A pint and a bite to eat at the Victoria Inn for lunch, and just in time for a takeaway coffee before Bumblebee Caf̩ closed at 4pm. Quite strenuous enough for me, so kudos to those doing the full monty.
Eight got off on the platform at Rowlands Castle, one was meant to have got off being all set for today’s walk so did a walk nearby, and one arrived later and did the shorter option so #10 I would say. The weather was #sunny-and-warm all day. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous – fresh greens in the woods and fields, some of which were covered in buttercups and plenty of other flowers were spotted including one early foxglove. Saw some deer and a few butterflies and heard lots of birdsong. We all walked together to the lunch pub, The Royal Oak, where 7 dined and one picnicked further up the lane. Good service and food in the pub. 3 people then did the main walk, and 5 set off to do the extension, and further extension. We got to the viewpoint on Beacon Hill with views across to Isle of Wight. The five then split into 2 groups of 3 and 2. I was in the rear group of 2, and we arrived at the Castle Inn, Rowlands Castle around 7.15 for much deserved drinks, and then got the slightly delayed 7.78 train back to London.
A beautiful walk, at the nicest time of year. Thank you Thomas
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