East Dean circular

By Edward Start

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The delightful village green at remote East Dean makes and ideal, midpoint lunch stop on this walk

This walk begins just off Selhurstpark Road as it takes its hilltop direction towards Goodwood racecourse.

At the start, there are extensive views across the coastal plain but this will mainly be an autumnal trip through extensive woodland and occasional downland meadows, with the isolated village of East Dean being the halfway objective.

The final couple of miles are an opportunity to stride out beneath trees along the Monarch's Way national trail, before a short climb back to the starting point.

1. Leave the Forestry Commission car park, found just off Selhurstpark Road, walk to its western end, cross over a bank and follow the path around to the right to join a forest track. Turn left for 50 yards to a bridleway junction, with a small, fenced pond to the right. Turn right and follow the bridleway as it begins a north-easterly descent through extensive woodland.

The path is clear and welldefined, with trees on the downland slopes at either side. In a little over half-a-mile, the path enters a small car park and then passes out to a minor road at Droke. Turn left and go along the road for 100 yards and then take the continuing signed bridleway on the right as it climbs the hill.

There is a solitary cottage set back behind the bushes.

2. Climb the steep, rising track through woodland, taking the signed (blue arrow) left option and crossing a short section of meadow, where deer can sometimes be observed, to pass through a gate and proceed along the bridleway.

Having passed a couple of right and left turnings, the bridleway arrives at a junction on Oxen Down and strikes off, in a north-easterly direction, along a wide-rising path for half-a-mile.

At a signed path junction, the bridleway goes to the left, becoming more enclosed, and then joins a forest track coming from the right.

The track dips slightly and then climbs towards a major bridleway crossing in 400 yards.

Turn left and take the straight track in a south-westerly direction. After half-a-mile of beech plantation, just before Shepherd's Croft, take the left, signed footpath (yellow arrow).

3. The level path soon becomes less of a wide forest track and, with the open hilltop of High Down to the left, begins a steady, and in places slippery after wet weather, descent beneath a tree tunnel. In just over a mile, the path comes out on to a valley-bottom minor road, with cottages opposite and to the right. You are now on the outskirts of East Dean village.

Turn right along Droke Lane, passing the houses on the right, and note in 150 yards a stile and footpath sign in the hedge to the left – we will return to this spot.

Continue up the road, passing The Old Post Office on the left. At a road junction, with Droke Farm on the left, turn left down the hill, passing the village hall on the right and soon arriving at The Star and Garter pub.

A short distance further on brings you to the village green and pond, where there are seats suitable for a brief rest or lunch stop. Take in the delightful tranquility of this isolated village.

East Dean was once famous for its hurdlemakers, the rural craftsmen who produced the portable fencing used in downland shepherding. The local pub was re-named The Hurdlemakers for a short period but has now reverted to its old name, no doubt the landlords preferring the regal emphasis in preference to any connection with more mundane country crafts.

4. Walk back up through the village, on our earlier approach route, noting the fine, flint-faced church tucked up the bank to the left, at the bend in the road opposite the farm. This is well-worth a diversion, if time permits.

Turn right at Droke Farm and go back down the minor road to the footpath and stile we passed earlier. Turn right over the stile and go straight across the meadow for 200 yards, with the local recreation ground to the left.

Climb a stile and drop down to a track, take a few paces left and, in a few yards, take a rising bridleway on the right. The path passes across the edge of a field and climbs towards the woods ahead. Shortly after entering the trees, take the left footpath that skirts around, and just inside, the edge of Bubholts.

On arriving at a stile, cross this and walk over a short section of open field to re-enter woodland in 150 yards. The path continues to a junction with a bridleway in 350 yards.

Take a few paces left and then take the right turn on the marker post, leaving the tree cover and crossing a field for 150 yards to come out at the roadside.

5. Cross the road and pick up the path opposite, taking the left footpath over a stile as it goes eastward beneath trees. This path is part of the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath.

There is now the opportunity to stride out for more than a mile along the autumnal track, with crunching leaves underfoot.

At one point, on crossing a southerly-facing forest drive, there is a fine view to the distinctive Halnaker Mill, more than a mile away. Keep heading eastward and the way becomes more of a path than a wide, woodland track.

On leaving the tree cover, continue for about 200 yards along the right hedgeline to a footpath sign. Take the left direction indicated, which climbs diagonally up the field back to Selhurstpark Road in 500 yards.

Cross the stile at the field edge, go over the road and upon entering the woodland turn right and follow the outward path back to the car park, from where the walk began.