Tillington Circular

By by Eddie Start

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Glimpses of grandeur: The fine Georgian mansion of Pitshill House is one of the architectural gems to be seen on this walk, which takes in three villages

Tillington sits just off the A272, a mile west of Petworth. It is the first of three charming Sussex villages which are visited on this walk.

Although they are now quiet and tranquil, these must have been bustling communities in the past, with nearby country houses and farms providing employment.

1. From the A272, ascend the rising Upperton Road for 100 yards into Tillington village. Opposite the church take the first left, turning along The Street. In 150 yards, where the road turns right, walk ahead through the lychgate into the village cemetery on the signed footpath. At the far side the path turns right, passes beneath a brick arch, crosses a road and resumes its way across a rising field, half-left.

In 300 yards the path goes half-left again and continues across open meadow, with Upperton Farm on the hill above. In 300 yards, cross a minor road, take a few paces right and drop down into a gully. Climb the steps opposite, pass through a gate and continue ahead, at first between hedges, then open field.

In 400 yards at New Road, take a few steps right and continue westward along the road beside Dene Dip. In 150 yards, at a footpath sign on the right, take the rising path through woodland, with cottages down on the left. The path crosses a stile and, tending right, joins a metalled driveway.

The route now follows this rising drive, with the impressive view to the left of the fine Georgian mansion of Pitshill House. Follow the drive as it curves left, passes through a gate and enters a cutting bordered by trees and shrubs. The path drops and comes to a path junction, with the garages of the house ahead.

2. Note the footpath sign, right, but take the signed bridleway left (blue arrow). In a few yards branch left again on to a footpath (yellow arrow) which becomes a woodland path, with the slope dropping to the right.

Follow this path for half a mile, dropping to a gully with a high wall to the left. Turn left up the hill and in 50 yards take the signed path, right, passing through a gate and fence into a paddock. Walk towards, and cross, the stile opposite. The path skirts around the edge of gardens, going left then right and dropping to a minor road, with a Royal Mail box in the wall opposite.

Turn left up the hill and in 100 yards take the signed bridleway, right, beside the house called Woolgars. The path drops, turns left for 50 yards, then right in woodland to come to a lower path junction. Turn half-left and walk towards the obvious Eel Bridge over a tributary of the River Rother.

Leave the bridge and climb the bridleway, diagonally left, across the rising field, with a fence to the left, towards the houses on the skyline. At the top of the field, turn left. Pass through a gate and on to a road, with St Peter’s Well cottage in front of you. Take the road to the right of the cottage, climb between banks to arrive at the main street of Lodsworth village in 200 yards.

3. Turn right up the village street, soon passing The Hollist Arms pub, set behind the small village green. Continue on the main street, signposted to Lickfold, and as the houses finish, at the cottage called Great Gulls, right, take the signed footpath down to the right.

This path at first drops beneath trees and then crosses a field towards woodland. Cross a footbridge, go right and in 100 yards turn left to climb up the hill of Old Park Copse.

The path leaves the tree cover and proceeds across the meadow, with a hedge to the left, crossing a stile, turning right for a few steps and coming to Leggatt Hill Farm.

Pass through the gate and walk across the gravel yard, between buildings, to a road. Turn right and walk down the road for 300 yards. At the driveway to Lodd House, left, walk down the drive for ten yards and take the signed footpath, right, as it drops through Limekiln Rough.

In 500 yards the path arrives at a minor road and clearing where there are large electricity pylons. Cross the road and follow the path to a stile in 100 yards.

Cross the stile and turn right down the field edge, coming to a further stile. Cross into the road, turn left and follow it across a bridge and, with a car park down to the right, walk towards Lodge Farm.

4. Just before the farm take the gate on the right and walk straight across the field towards an opening in the hedge ahead.

Take the path which follows the right hedgeline of the field to the right field corner, beneath an oak tree. Cross the stile and turn right to walk towards nearby cottages.

At Rock Cottage, on the left, with a track junction ahead, go left and in 25 yards, turn right to head off between the enclosing woodland of Upperton Common.

The path continues, passing Nithurst Farm on the left, getting steeper and eventually arriving at a minor road, with the boundary wall of Petworth Park and a tower, opposite.

5. Turn right along the road and walk straight on towards the village of Upperton. Where the village street turns left, take the metalled track ahead which passes between Home Farm and Holloways. Do not turn left.

In just over 150 yards the footpath takes the signed ramp to the right, turns right and passes to the right of a bungalow called Woodgers.

Walk along an avenue of trees and in 150 yards, at a seat, turn left and drop down the open meadow, with wonderful downland views.

In 400 yards this path rejoins the earlier approach, turn left, follow the path, crossing the gully and heading back towards Tillington on the outward path taken at the start.