Sunday Walk - Haslemere to Midhurst (via Midhurst Way)

Length: 16.3 km (10.1 mi) [or longer, see below]Ascent/Descent: 332/450m; Net Walking Time: 4 hoursToughness: 4/10 

 

Take the 09.30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (09.39 CJ, 10.04 Woking, 10.17 G’ford), arrives Haslemere at 10.34.Return to Haslemere from Midhurst either by bus number 70 (at 16.35 or 18.35) or by taxi. 

Return trains from Haslemere are on xx.17 and xx.42, journey time about an hour. Buy a Haslemere return. 

 

The route of this walk leads out of Haslemere in a southerly direction through Camelsdale and steeply up to Marley Common, a mixture of mature woodland and open heathland and then continues south through a fine mix of quiet forests with frequent far views out to the South Downs or back to Black Down. The walk continues to the scenic villages of Fernhurst and then Henley with their respective pubs, the latter halfway up another steep ascent to Verdleyhill. Finally, it passes Easebourne village and priory and enters Midhurst via Cowdray Park with its polo fields, then past the ruined Cowdray Castle by the River Rother.

 

This walk is the northerly section of the Midhurst Way, which has been created by John Trueman, local to the area and a passionate advocate of outdoor pursuits. It runs between Arundel and Haslemere. The southerly section Arundel to Midhurst is available as a separate SWC Walk. 

For a shortcut, bus line 70 also stops along the route in: Fernhurst, Henley (above the village on the A-road) and Easebourne (350m off-route on the A286).

Lunch: The Red Lion in Fernhurst (6.2 km/3.8 mi, food to 15.00), or The Duke of Cumberland Arms in Henley (9.7 km/6.1 mi, food to 14.30). 

Tea: lots of choice in Easebourne and Midhurst, check the pdf for details; recommended are Cowdray Farm Shop & Cafe (2.0 km from the end), Garton’s Coffee House, The Wheatsheaf, The Angel Inn, The Olive & Vine and Fitzcane’s Café. 

 

For summary, map, height profile, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.218