| This walk starts on the road from Rowlands Castle to West Marden, just up from Deanlane End but before Forestside. Parking is in a small wooded area (Grid SU746121), mainly on the north side of the road with a smaller area on the south side. | |
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Walk up the road towards Forestside to the houses on
the left, then take the footpath off left between the houses. The path
crosses a small field, then over a stile and down through woods to join a
farm track. Turn left then straight right, to follow the track up to South
Holt Farm. At the farm yard, take the footpath off to the right, again
following a farm track. (photo: Looking north near South Holt Farm) |
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The track soon bears left, but continue east on
the footpath along the southern edge of Markwells Wood. Pass through the
eastern edge of the wood into open fields, then on to the track at Horsley
Farm. (photo: Passing close to West Marden House) |
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Turn right on the track, then left at the finger
post down the side of a wood, following a path down hill right past West
Marden House to the road at West Marden. Head down past The Victoria pub
to the main road. Cross this road to the small lane that goes up the hill.
Take the footpath on the right, up from the bus stop and left of the
house. (photo: Looking back in the direction of West Marden) |
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The path now goes southeast across fields to join a
small lane below Locklash Farm. Turn right and follow the lane until the
footpath/track off to the left. Follow this track, then right onto a
footpath at the end of the fields. Continue straight on this path through
Haslet Copse, dropping down to a lane below Pitlands Farm. (photo: View north towards Locklash Farm area) |
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Continue on the path across the road, uphill through
the right edge of a wood, then at the top take the path right across open
fields towards Walderton. Cross a lane, still following the path, until a
path is reached going left between gardens. (photo: View north on approaching Walderton) |
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At the lane, turn right and go
down to the Chichester/West Marden road. Cross this road and go left then
right onto another small lane. After the last house on the left take the
footpath left passing behind the gardens. (photo: Cottage at Walderton) |
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Continue south across the fields towards
Fordington House. The path continues at the southern corner of the field to
meet the access road to Fordington House. Turn left then right at the main
road, following the road to where a road branches off to the right. Take
this road right, then soon after follow the track up hill, also on the
right. (photo: Walderton village from near Fordington House) |
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Continue past Racton Monument (left), until the access
track to Sindle’s Farm. At this point turn right (north) and follow the
left of two paths across open fields. (Stansted House is over to the left.)
The path eventually reaches a ‘T’ junction with the Monarch’s Way.
Turn right and continue for a short distance (photo: Stansted House in the distance) |
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. Where the path enters the wood, just before
Woodlands Cotts, take a path off left which crosses northwest, through a
field, towards Lumley Seat. Follow the path right of the house, across a
track and into the woods. The path eventually follows the western edge of
the wood, then northwest across open ground to the southern end of Firtree
Piece wood. (photo: Clare approaching Lumley Seat) |
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Follow the path north through the wood to the northern
edge and below Forestside. Turn left, following the path on the northern
edge of Firtree Piece to a country lane. Turn left, and just past Forestside
Church, follow the path/track right (west) in the direction of Warren Down
farm. (photo: Looking across to Forestside) |
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At the house at the end of the track, take the
footpath to the left of the house. Soon after, avoiding the footpath off
left, a small wooded area is reached. Take the footpath right (north) up a
small field to join the Rowlands Castle/West Marden road. Turn left for a
short walk back to the parking area and the start of the walk. (photo: About to cross the last field close to the car park) |
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