This 6.5 km Tottington South Downs walk is fabulous but quite tough in parts. It rewards you with stunning views and a lovely woodland stretch which in spring is carpeted in bluebells. In the winter, it does get muddy and slippery, and walking poles are handy as it’s very steep in places. You’ll need Ordnance Survey Explorer 11.
Park at Tottington Manor Hotel (if you’re planning on concluding your walk with coffee, cake or lunch – and why wouldn’t you?). They are dog-friendly if you have your hound. You’ll find the hotel south of Small Dole on the lane that runs from the A2037 to the A281 via Edburton, Fulking and Poynings. Parking on the lane is extremely limited. This is a circular route. It should take about an hour to an hour and a half depending on fitness and the elevation is 229 metres. But be warned, the first two kilometres are uphill, and at times the first kilometre feels like a vertical climb!
To Tottington Mount
As you leave the hotel car park, turn right and you’ll see the footpath on the opposite side of the road almost immediately (opposite the farm entrance). Just follow the path upwards for two kilometres. Stop and look back often as the landscape below is slowly revealed as you climb. Once you reach open pasture (you think you’re at the top – you’re not!), the signage is not brilliant but on a clear day you should be able to see Truleigh Hill radio station which is vaguely the direction you are heading in.
On your way up, you will pass Room Bottom to your right and Tottington Mount to your left. There is a Bronze Age cross dyke on the northern slopes of the mount and apparently on a clear day you can see the Medieval churches of Botolphs, Bramber and Steyning. Stick to the bridlepath rather than the footpaths, watch out for the very charming goats and eventually you come to the South Downs Way and Truleigh Hill YHA. There is a café here if you want a break and it is open to the public from 11:00 – 20:30, Monday to Sunday, during peak season.
Truleigh to Edburton
Follow the South Downs Way east, past the radio tower and down the hill to the first dip in the path and gate. Edburton Hill is ahead of you but you are turning off the South Downs Way here and heading (north) down the Fulking Escarpment. The footpath is signed and once through the gate, you’ll see that the path divides. You can go straight on or left, and both bring you to Edburton but for this walk, turn left.
This part of the path, is a steep, narrow ledge with fabulous views across the bowl shaped escarpment. Look back at the way you have come and the solitary tree where the path divided. Once back at the bottom of the Downs, you’re on the very edge of the village of Edburton and you go more or less straight across the county lane, following the footpath signs down a tarmac drive. When you reach Coles (business) you’ll see the path goes round to the left.
Edburton back to Tottington
Follow the path until you come to a hedge and a footpath crossroads. Go left, following the footpath along the hedge of the field, across a drive and eventually into Tottington Wood. This is a local nature reserve and semi ancient woodland that dates back to 1600. In spring, enjoy the bluebells but there’s lots of other wildlife too. When you come to a made up track, turn left, and this will lead you back to Tottington Manor Hotel where you can enjoy a well earned lunch!
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