Byworth to Henley

A peaceful 13km walk through the picturesque landscape of Petworth Park, wooded commons and forested woodlands above the Rother valley with rolling views across the Low Weald and the South Downs.

  The pubs

There are four pubs that link to this walk, providing plenty of opportunity for refreshments at the beginning and end of the walk, with two other intermediate stops available during the first quarter of the walk, so you should find your needs met, whether you set off early or later in the day.
The Black Horse Inn, Byworth A welcoming 16th Century country pub serving a selection of regularly changing guest ales and serving quality home cooked food. Situated close to the start of the walk with access to the footpath direct from the beer garden at the rear. http://www.theblackhorsebyworth.com/
The Angel Inn, Petworth A short step of the route and into Petworth brings you to the Angel Inn. This has been modernised and hosts a large courtyard garden at the rear, a selection of real ales and good quality food. Or you might consider breaking your journey home to spend an hour or two here in the afternoon, before the last bus. Petworth is served by Stagecoach service 1 and Compass Bus 99 (see detailed info below) http://angelinnpetworth.co.uk/
The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington This charming pub nestled in the sleepy village of Tillington with its quirky and peaceful beer garden makes for a fabulous point to stop and rest before settling into the walk proper. This is an ideal stop for lunch if you are planning to set off on the walk later in the day, or you might consider breaking your journey home to spend an hour or two in the afternoon, before the last bus. Tillington is served by Stagecoach service 1. http://thehorseguardsinn.co.uk/
The Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley A 15th century pub perched on the side of a hill with breathtaking views stretching across the Low Weald as far as Surrey. The aim of the owners is “to provide you with a peaceful haven in a tranquil corner of West Sussex away from the hustle and bustle of work and everyday life”, which it does… by the bucket-load! http://www.dukeofcumberland.com/

The walk

You can open this link to view the Byworth to Henley walk in a larger map window or to open the walk on your smartphone in Google Maps. This is a fully interactive map that will enable you to follow the route as you walk and to access additional information such as bus timetables and pub websites, You can use Street View to check features on the route, for example, to recognise the route on the ground and to identify where the bus stops are or what to look out for. Also, by activating your phone's GPS you can identify your location and follow your progress as you go.

 

Route Description

A few words of warning. Use caution whilst on country roads as the traffic can be faster than expected and can appear suddenly around bends. As a rule, if there is no pavement or verge, you should walk on the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should also be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light. Keep close to the side of the road and it may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend (so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you). Cross back after the bend.


1.      If you arrive at the bus stop on the A286 be very aware that this is a busy road with fast traffic. Leave follow the road signposted to Byworth. The Black Horse is one of the first buildings that you come to, on your right hand side. Alternatively, if you arrive on Route 99 then you will probably be dropped-off at the Black Horse.

      Walk down the road into Byworth (away from the A286), turning right down the driveway beside the telephone box. At the end of the driveway go through the gate and follow the footpath past the rear entrance to the pub, over a stile into a field. Follow the field boundary to your left, above the duck ponds. Go over a stile at the far end of the field and turn left to follow the footpath down into the woods. Cross the stream and bear right to go through a kissing gate. Then, take the right fork straight ahead along the valley floor. The path rises up through the meadow to skirt around the edge of the houses at the top of the hill. Follow the gravel drive, which leads up to the A283.

2.   Turn left to walk along the pavement of the A283 towards Petworth, crossing over almost immediately to pick up the footpath on the other side of the road. The historic wall and the drop away to your right give an indication of the defensive position of the early settlement of Petworth. Where three footpaths converge go straight ahead (unless you wish to visit The Angel Inn, which is found by turning left) to follow the perimeter of the village overlooking a rolling valley with views across the Low Wield. Shortly a footpath joins on the right-hand side. Ignore this and continue following the route towards the left that leads into Barton’s Lane and brings you out on the A272 opposite the parish church. Turn right into North Street and cross the road to enter the Cowyard entrance to Petworth Park. Go straight ahead towards the old stables and then go through the tunnel on your left and into Petworth Park. Please note that the route through Petworth Park is not a public right of way and is open from 8am to dusk, or 9pm.

The 17th-century mansion is set in a beautiful 283-hectare (700-acre) deer park, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown and immortalised in Turner's paintings

3.   Bear left and find your way across the park, heading for the left hand side of the Upper Pond. When you reach the gravel track, follow this to the right. Bear left where this forks, bringing you to the New Lodges’ gate. Leave the park and turn to your right to rejoin the A272, heading west. Follow the perimeter wall of the deer park into Tillington, leaving the A272 to follow the footpath beneath the church, noticeable for its ‘Scots Crown’ spire. Go through the church yard to emerge in Tillington, opposite the Horse Guards Inn. Follow the road ahead, with Petworth Park’s wall beside you. As the road rises, views open up to the south and west, giving views across the South Downs. Continue through the picturesque village of Upperton and past the road junction signed to Pitshill.

4.      Opposite the next gate in the Petworth Park’s wall, take the second of the two footpaths that leave the road, marked the Serpent Trail, into the woods that cross Upperton Common. Descend through the woodland crossing a culvert, where there is a view through to the fields on your right and Nithurst Farm beyond, and continue straight ahead, staying close to the boundary fence with the farm for a while. Cross a 2^nd culvert pipe and continue in this direction. Turn left into Westland’s Copse Lane and immediately right to follow the public bridleway passed Rock Cottage. Take the footpath to your left, across the stile and through the field, going through the gate at the far end of the field. Cross the 2^nd field heading for the left-hand side of the farm buildings. Turn left down the farm track, cross the bridge and follow the lane to the left. Before reaching the first bend in the road, take the first footpath to your right which follows the woodland on the edge of the field. Pass under the power lines and in the corner of the field take the footpath on your left, into the woodland of Limekiln Rough. Keep straight ahead, crossing the lane and continuing along the track ahead of you. On reaching the end of the path, turn right down the public bridleway. Follow the bridleway into the woodland of Lodsworth Common. The path rises up through the woodland, past the cottages, following the track round to the left to join the road at Leggatt Hill.

5.   Turn left along the road, crossing under the power lines once more, and take the footpath to the right, set within the junction signposted to Leggatt Hill. Leave the road and follow the path to a farm gate and cross the field, skirting around the base of the pylon, keeping the pylon to your right hand side. Leaving the gate at the far end of the field, follow the public bridleway to the right. Go through the gate at the far end of the field into the woods and continue along the bridleway. When you reach a cross tracks, bear right, following the bridleway down the hill. Pass the three cottages and continue straight ahead until reaching Highstead Lane, turning left into the lane and follow this uphill to Bexleyhill. The road and bridleways can get very wet here due to it being just beneath the spring line. After The White Cottage, the footpath leaves the road on the right hand side to descend into Verdley Wood. In Verdley Wood you will see coppiced woodland to your left and conifer plantation to your right. This coppice is being actively managed and for the conservation of butterflies. The Pearl-bordered Fritillary bred in 2008 on chestnut coppice that had been cleared in the previous winter specifically for this species.

A cleared area, under management for butterfly conservation

6.      Where the footpath forks, bear left, uphill along the public footpath beside the coppiced woodland. At the top of the hill take the right fork and descend to cross a culvert and then uphill, bearing right and downhill again. At the edge of the woodland bear left. To enter a cleared area. Continue straight ahead, bearing left at the junction with a track, staying on the Serpent’s Trail, and re-enter the woodland on the far side. The path descends through the woodland, crossing a stream and then turns left to skirt around, and then between, the rear gardens of the properties in Henley before emerging on a gravel track. Turn right and you will shortly come to The Duke of Cumberland, in front of you.

Getting There & Away  

Stagecoach service 1 provides up to eleven services a day Monday to Saturday, between Midhurst, Pulborough*, Storrington, Findon and Worthing*. To arrive at the starting point, ask the driver for the stop at Byworth, just on the A283 just east of Petworth.

Compass Bus Route 99 is a new type of flexible bus service operating between Chichester* and Petworth. The timetable shows earliest times at key locations on fixed sections of route, and principle locations covered by flexible sections of route, including Byworth, for which pre-booking by telephone is essential. Telephone booking line: 01903 264776 (09:00 - 17:00 Mon – Fri; 09:00 - 13:00 Saturday).

At the end of the walk, Henley is served by Stagecoach service 70/71, which provides hourly connections to Midhurst, Haslemere* and Guildford*. The Henley stop is on the A286, and the pick up times are approximately seven minutes out of Midhurst.

Midhurst is a local hub for bus services, which include:

·         Stagecoachservice 1 to Midhurst, Pulborough*, Storrington, Findon and Worthing*

·        Stagecoach Service 60 to Chichester* and Bognor Regis*

·         Stagecoachservice 70/71 to Haslemere* and Guildford*

·         Countryliner service 91/92/93 to Petersfield*

* Bus services connect to the national rail network at Pulborough, Chichester, Worthing, Haslemere and Guildford.

As journeys are likely to include several buses and, potentially more than one operator, an Explorer ticket might be the cheapest option. Costing up to £8.50 for an adult per day – the price varies between operators – this ticket allows unlimited bus travel on most bus services in the region.

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