Petworth sits at something of a crossroads for walkers. Surrounded by the landscapes of the South Downs National Park and with several long-distance trails passing through or close to the town, it makes an excellent base for exploring this part of West Sussex on foot.
And you don’t have to go far. Step out of the centre of Petworth and you can be walking through ancient parkland within minutes, while beyond the town is a vast network of footpaths, bridleways, old drovers’ tracks, commons and country lanes. Head a little further afield and the ridge of the South Downs, visible from Petworth, opens up mile after mile of walking.
Whether you want an hour in the park, a walk with lots of interest along the way, a good pub walk, a full day’s hike or the beginnings of a long-distance adventure, Petworth has plenty to offer.
Petworth Park and short walks
The obvious place to start is Petworth Park. Sitting immediately alongside the town, the historic parkland offers some of the easiest and most accessible walking in Petworth and some of the most beautiful.
There are hundreds of acres to explore, with ancient trees, rolling grassland and herds of deer, while the wider estate provides glimpses of a landscape shaped over centuries. Look out too for the tower on the edge of the park, a local landmark captured by JMW Turner during his long association with Petworth.
For a shorter walk or an afternoon when you simply want to step out of town and into the countryside, the park is hard to beat.
Long-distance walks through Petworth
For more ambitious walkers, Petworth’s location gets particularly interesting.
The Serpent Trail passes through the town as it winds its way across the heathlands, woods and commons of the western Weald and South Downs. Its deliberately twisting route makes this less about getting from A to B and much more about exploring the landscape along the way.
Petworth also sits on the Sussex Diamond Way, another long-distance trail through the Sussex countryside, while the Petworth Way offers another opportunity to explore the wider area on foot. A little further south, you can join the South Downs Way, while the West Sussex Literary Trail provides another long-distance option nearby. Taken together, they put Petworth at the heart of an extraordinary network of walking routes.
Walking the countryside around Petworth
Of course, you don’t need to follow a named trail. One of the pleasures of walking around Petworth is simply choosing a direction and seeing where the footpaths take you. It is possible to strike out towards neighbouring towns and villages, including Midhurst, Pulborough and Billingshurst, or create circular walks that bring you back to Petworth.
To the east are wooded landscapes around Flexham Park and the Mens Nature Reserve, along with nature reserves and the countryside towards Bedham. To the south, Lavington and Graffham Commons offer more woodland and heathland walking, with the South Downs rising beyond.
Head north and there is more to discover around Ebernoe Common and towards Lurgashall, while Blackdown – the highest point in the South Downs National Park – is also within easy reach for a day of walking and far-reaching views.
Woodland, water and old Sussex tracks
Perhaps the greatest appeal of Petworth walking is its variety. One route might take you beneath a canopy of trees along an old drovers’ track; another across huge open fields or through parkland where deer graze beneath ancient oaks. There are quiet country lanes, heathland, commons, streams and ponds, as well as stretches of walking beside or across the River Rother, which flows to the south of the town. There are reminders of the area’s history too. At Coultershaw you can discover the historic bridge and pumping station, while elsewhere there are follies, old estates, churches and traces of communities that have occupied this landscape for centuries.
Some walks feel almost forgotten, particularly among the woods and commons, while others open suddenly onto enormous Sussex skies and distant views of the Downs.
Villages, pubs and places to pause
Then there are the destinations along the way.
The countryside surrounding Petworth is scattered with small villages and hamlets that make excellent targets for a walk. Lurgashall, with its village green and Noah’s Ark pub, is one; Fittleworth and Stopham with their medieval landmarks and pubs is another and elsewhere there are country pubs, churches and tiny settlements that give you a reason to add another mile or two to the route.
And that is perhaps the best way to approach walking in Petworth. Don’t think of it as one destination with a handful of prescribed walks. Think of the town as a gateway. Start in Petworth Park. Follow one of the long-distance trails. Walk beside the Rother, disappear into the woods, climb towards the Downs or simply pick a footpath and see which Sussex village, country pub or unexpected landmark you find at the other end.
There are enough paths radiating out from Petworth to keep you exploring for a very long time.
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