Warnham and Rowhook

By Eddie Start

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One of the many beautiful properties you will pass on the walk

Warnham still has the feel of a High Weald Sussex village about it and seems to have resisted the expansion of nearby Horsham. The village is a short distance from the A24 trunk road but has a busy community atmosphere, with a main street, church, school and delightfully appointed cricket field and village hall.

This walk is also accessible for those arriving by train – a short, easy walk along Station Road from Warnham Station brings you to the starting point in Church Street, in front of the parish church of St Margaret.

1. With the church behind you and the Sussex Oak pub to the right, head off up the signed footpath that goes west from the main street. In a short distance the enclosed path passes the school on the right and the cricket field, left. On arriving at a road, in a small development, go left, then take the right branch along Lucas Road, coming to Tillets Lane in 150 yards.

Cross the lane and climb through bushes opposite to follow a footpath behind houses, towards open fields.

The path passes through a number of field boundaries, where the way ahead is signed, with views south across wooded countryside. At a signed path junction take the left turn and in 100 yards go right. In 400 yards the path drops into a wooded gully, take a few paces left, climb some steps and cross a stile on the right. Continue ahead on the footpath for 300 yards, cross a stile and walk down the left field edge, with woodland to the left.

2. At a path junction, with a planted field in front of you, take the half-right signed path, diagonally, across the meadow towards the far-right corner. At the field corner go left across a plank bridge and in 100 yards go right through a gate into woodland, on a causeway between drainage areas.

In 100 yards cross a stile into a paddock, walk straight across to a further stile and in a few paces go left through the gate, behind stables, to cross another stile in 25 yards.

Turn right and walk out onto a metalled drive. Go left down the drive, viewing the elegant frontage of Westbrook Hall, then cross a bridge to come to the busy Bognor Road.

Turn right and walk, with care, for 150 yards along the side of the road, then cross and take the drive opposite into the residential estate of Charmans.

On passing the last house on the right, proceed through the white gate and along the drive that leads to more houses.

Stay on the main drive as it turns right and then left, signed for The Dower House. With farm buildings and a white lamp post to the left, climb the bank to a footpath sign, turn left through a gate, and walk ahead between the farm buildings. At the end of the farm site, go left of a large openfronted barn and through a field gate.

3. Go half-right and follow the hedgeline south-west across the field. Where the hedge finishes, drop diagonally right towards the woodland.

Cross a stile, follow the path into the woods, going right, then left to climb a steep bank. On coming to a gate, enter the field. Take the path that skirts around the right field edge and climbs the meadow leftward, this line follows the route of the Roman Stane Street for about 400 yards.

On arriving at the far side of the field pass through a gate and follow the track right, with Rowhook Farm on the left, to come to a secondary road. Turn left, walk along the grass verge, crossing the road before the busy corner, to The Chequers Inn.

4. Take the rising road to the left of the pub and just after the entrance to Little Farthings climb the bank, left, on the footpath that goes right and follows the fenceline around the edge of the property. In a few yards take the signed right direction across an open meadow, with views to the South Downs, dropping towards woodland stiles ahead. Take the right signed path down through woods, which are rich in wild flowers at certain times of year, and in 600 yards arrive at the busy A29 road.

Cross the road with care and enter the bridleway opposite, follow the metalled drive going left then right towards Townhouse Farmhouse. At the farm take a few paces right to follow the left hedge and fence as it skirts the house, go left across the field and enter a copse.

Cross a bridge and go over the top of a meadow and descend to a field corner. Take the left turning for 300 yards, climb left for 50 yards and then right on the bridleway to Nowhurst Farm. At the farm follow the path through a gate, go left and keep on the farm drive for half-a-mile to come to the Guildford Road at Strood Green.

5. Cross the road, take the footpath opposite that passes across school playing fields and drops left, crosses a stile and goes past a pond. Climb the bridleway and in 400 yards take a few paces left to continue on the path through woodland, coming to Strood Lane. Cross the lane and take the continuing bridleway to Warnham Manor. At the four-way junction, walk ahead for a few yards and take the bridleway going right, beside the manor fence.

At the gated manor entrance continue on the bridleway, keeping to the edge of the drive for about half a mile, to arrive back at the outskirts of Warnham. Go left for 100 yards, then take the left fork into Tillets Lane. At Lucas Road, in 300 yards, go right and follow the outward route, past the school and cricket ground, to the main village street.