Lurgashall circular

By Eddit Start

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Beautiful old Balck Down House is passed on this climb from one of the prettiest villages up to the highest part of Sussex.

Lurgashall's idyllic village green is the start for this walk. It is a perfect rural setting, with a pub, the sports pavilion facing the cricket pitch, the village shop, the parish church and nestling cottages.

Our route will lead us on a rising path to the highest point in Sussex, with extensive views eastward along the Downs escarpment. The return journey follows wooded paths and quiet meadows to the very English scene at the start.

Lurgashall sits well away from any main roads, close to the county boundary with Surrey, and is accessible, westward, from the A283 Petworth-to-Northchapel road.

1. From the north-east corner of the village green, with The Noah's Ark pub on the right and the church of St Lawrence behind, head off up the rising green, passing in front of the sports pavilion, to the topright corner and road junction.

Take the road ahead, west, and, in a few paces, cross a stile in the hedge on the right just before a bungalow, onto an enclosed footpath. The path passes beside orchards and across meadows, crossing a succession of six stiles and in 250 yards enters woodland.

Continue on a well-defined path through woodland for half a mile, coming to a four-way junction. Drop left onto a bridleway, shown on the map as High Lane, where there is a marker post with a green arrow.

Go right, following the path as it turns to the left beside a small caravan site, arriving at a metalled drive with an entrance to the site and a builder's yard on the left. Turn right up the drive, which rises towards a minor road, with Guardian Cottage on the right.

2. Turn left, along the road for 100 yards, and just before Lurgashall Winery take the right footpath (yellow arrow), which rises through woodland for 200 yards to a four-way path junction, with two stone gate pillars ahead.

Take the left path which twists its way under trees and in 300 yards goes briefly right, then left, across a south-facing meadow, to a path junction in 150 yards.

Turn right up the rising path, at first between hedgerow and then across meadows for three-quarters-of-a-mile, crossing stiles and heading in the direction of Black Down House away to the left, behind an obvious boundary wall.

Continue on the path as it passes close to the entrance gate to the house, dropping slightly, crossing a drive and climbing more steeply to a fence higher up the slope. At the next drive, turn left and walk to the entrance gate, taking a stone stile, right.

3. Turn left up the minor road to the top of a rise, with a boundary wall on the left. In 200 yards, as the wall finishes, take the bridleway on the right and, as it turns to the right at a National Trust sign, begin the ascent of the steep, wooded path between banks, in a north-easterly direction.

The path levels-off at the top of the climb, going to the right, passing a seat before coming to a path junction and clearing amongst the trees. Dropping to the right, down steps, brings you to the viewing area shown on the map as the Temple of the Winds.

This was a favourite spot for poet laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, once a resident of nearby Aldworth House.

At 919ft, Black Down is the highest point in Sussex and from the orientation table there are fine views across the Weald and along the Downs. The whole site is under the attentive care of the National Trust.

4. From the viewing point climb back to the wide path and follow the treebordered bridleway straight ahead, in a northerly direction for a quarter-of-a-mile, passing a small pond on the right, midway.

Keep to the main track, at a path junction note the handrail on the right which leads down steps and take this turning. At the bottom, turn sharply right and follow the descending path. The wooded slope drops steeply to the left but soon the path runs between banks, getting steeper and levelling off beside a fence, to arrive at a minor road.

Turn left down Quell Lane, passing the entrance to Abesters and in 100 yards, just before Telegraph Cottage, take the left footpath through Ramsfold Wood.

The path drops through woodland, following footpath signs, to a plank bridge and a minor road. Cross this and enter the woodland path opposite. The path turns left in 50 yards, passes beside a hedge and takes a right turn over a stile in 150 yards. Pass through a gate and follow the path across a meadow for 500 yards, crossing two stiles into Jobson's Lane.

Cross the road, take a few paces right and enter the bridleway on the left, beside a metal gate. In a few yards, go left through a double wooden gate and then go half-left across the open field towards a footpath sign. Turn right along Bullock Lane, this wends its way for three-quarters-of-a-mile through woodland to Hookham's Farm. Follow the metalled road on towards Hillgrove.

5. Just before a road junction, opposite Wheelwrights, with a distinctive clock tower on its roof, take the stile on the right. The path crosses a meadow and enters woodland. In a further 150 yards, take the signed left path, crossing a plank bridge and climbing to follow the left field edge, adjacent to Upper Barn Hanger, for nearly half-a-mile.

The path then enters trees, drops to a footbridge and climbs a bank into a field. Take a few paces right, turn left and follow the right hedgeline for 400 yards.

Cross a stile at the field end to the enclosed path, coming out on a farm drive. Turn left, keeping to the drive, and follow this, passing Park Farm.

The drive brings you back to Lurgashall church, with the pub to the right. Either establishment may appeal at this stage.