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Stoughton, Kingley Vale & Bow Hill from Stoughton Down

South Downs Walk

Nat Park - South Downs

County/Area - West Sussex

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.2 miles / 8.5 km    Ascent - 750 feet / 227 metres

Time - 3 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Stoughton, Kingley Vale & Bow Hill from Stoughton Down
Click image to see photo description.

A West Sussex walk exploring an area of rolling countryside in the South Downs National Park. The start is Stoughton Down car park (grid ref. SU814126) which lies on the east side of the minor road leading northeast from Stoughton village.

To start the walk, exit the car park and turn right (walking north-west) along the quiet country road. Ignore the first footpath on the left and continue a short way to reach a bridleway also on the left. Follow the track, passing buildings on your left (Wildham Barn) and continue along the path with woodland to your right. Where the track forks, bear left and continue for a kilometre to reach a cross path at grid ref. SU802120) Turn left here and descend into Stoughton village.

Reaching a lane after 450 metres, turn right and walk through Stoughton village passing the Hare and Hounds Pub on your right, with a possible diversion for refreshments! Continue through the village passing the village green. Turn left just before Tithe Barn House (bridleway sign is hidden on the left) and climb steadily up the track. The track enters woodland to reach a fork in the track (with open farmland to your right).

Take the left fork and continue for about 800 metres to reach a clearing. On your right are two Bronze Age earthworks (The Devil's Humps). Take the path to the left of the first earthwork and head up onto the second to obtain the best view. Then continue northeast across the filed to join a path leading into the woods (grid ref. SU821111) passing the Tansley Stone on your left. Continue walking through a gate. A short diversion to the left leads to the trig point on Bow Hill.

Reaching a path junction after about 120 metres, take the left fork following a clear path through the pleasant woodland. Ignore all side paths until you reach a five-way junction of tracks just after passing open farmland on your left. Continue straight across this junction on a clear track. Continue ahead for just over a kilometre with the track curving left to join another track coming in from the right (grid ref. SU818129). Continue ahead at this junction and the car park used at the start of the walk soon comes into sight.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1835 Treyford & Didling from Hooksway easy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1872 Charlton, Singleton & Goodwood Circulareasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 2044 Six Harbour Villages, Chichestermoderate10.0 miles
Walk 2368 Bosham & Fishbourneeasy5.2 miles
Walk 1656 Thorney Island circular from Prinsted easy/mod9.0 miles
Walk 2043 Thorney Island from Emswortheasy/mod9.0 miles
Walk 2422 Butser Hill and Wether Down from Buritonmoderate12.5 miles
Walk 2828 Dell Quay from Chichester Marina easy3.8 miles
Walk 2232 Midhurst and Woolbedingeasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 3260 Butser Hill Circulareasy/mod6.9 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walks in the South Downs National Park

Walks in the South Downs National ParkGuidebook with 40 circular walks throughout the South Downs National Park, exploring the beautiful chalk hills between Eastbourne and Winchester. The walks range from under 5 miles to 11 miles, including Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, Ditchling Beacon and hundreds of prehistoric sites. Accessible all year, but wild flowers best in spring.
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