|
Eartham Wood is situated along the A285 Petworth turn-off from the A27, east of Chichester. Pass through the village of Halnaker, then 2.5 miles further on, turn off sharp right on the road to Eartham. Not long down this road is the car park, off to the left, for the start of the walk. |
|
|
Just inside the car park, on the right, is a small
parking area. Start out along the footpath at the end of this area, where
after a short distance it reaches a gravel woodland track. Turn left onto
the track, and follow the track north through the woods. The path ends at an
open field, with another path running left to right, not too far from the
Petworth road. Turn right here and continue along the path for a distance,
still in the woods, to where it ends at a footpath ‘T’ junction. (photo: Heading north through Eartham Wood) |
 |
|
Go right onto a wide track, exit the wood, and
continue on the track between two fenced fields. A fork of footpaths is met
after a short distances. Go left along this path up Burton Down until the
gate off to the right, at which point the South Downs Way is joined. (photo: Looking east along the South Downs Way at Burton Down) |
 |
| (photo: Heading west on the South Downs Way near Cross Dikes) |  |
| (photo: Looking west along the South Downs with Littleton Down above Littleton Farm) |  |
|
Turn left onto the South Downs way, and follow it down
to the Petworth road at Littleton farm.
(photo: Looking back along the muddy track at Little Farm) |
 |
|
Cross the road and continue up the
hill for a short distance, then leave the South Downs way off to the right.
Follow the wide track north'ish, paralleling the main road over to the right,
then down the first path off right. This leads to the farm yard at Dogkennel
Cottages. Pass through the yard to the main road, cross the road, then left
up the road passing the cottages to the right. (photo: Looking back up the muddy track from Dogkennel Farm) |
 |
|
Soon after Dogkennel cottages, go right up a wide
track just after where the main road bends left. (The track can be very
muddy after rain.) Follow the track until the start of the wood, then take
the path off right before entering the wood. (photo: Looking south to Dogkennel Cottages) |
 |
|
(photo: Four stag deer in the field) |
 |
|
Continue up the left side of
Farm Hill, with the radio mast of Bignor Hill in view, to the gate at the
top. (photo: Sheep enjoying the sun on the north slopes of Farm Hill) |
 |
|
Pass through the gate and continue on the track on the eastern side of
Farm Hill. The path drops down a little through a wooded area then bears
left between hedgerows. Soon a path is met from the left, which continues up
right, with a path going straight on. (photo: View east along the South Downs) |
 |
|
Go straight on up the path (not left
or right) heading up to Bignor Hill car park area. (photo: Looking back to Farm Hill) |
 |
|
Cross the open ground at the top, then follow the
path to the left of the radio masts, passing down a fenced track after the
mast area. Bear sharp right where the next path is reached, crossing over
the South Downs Way, then down the path to a stile at another path
junction. (photo: The Solent in sunshine way in the distance) |
 |
| (photo: Clare at the top of Stane Street .... the old Roman Road) |  |
|
Cross the stile and join Stane Street, the old Roman Road, and
continue along this path back to Eartham Wood. Continue straight on the
gravel track in the woods, avoiding the path off left/right on entering
the wood. (photo: On the way down to Eartham Wood) |
 |
|
The track eventually meets another track very close to the
Eartham Road. Go right on the track, this was used at the start of the
walk, then soon left onto the path back to the car park. (photo: Entering the northern part of Eartham Wood) |
 |