A great Slow Way for showcasing the beauty of the South Downs, exploring heathland, woods, and downland. The route out of Arundel starts along a tarmacked access road. As an alternative, I took the wooded path to the left (Photo 2), which rejoins the route after the road. The Slow Way passes below Bignor Hill before switching from the Monarch’s Way to the South Downs Way. I tried an alternative route down which leaves the South Downs Way by Tegleaze Farm [SU934161], heading northwest into the wooded descent. Ironically a vehicle left this road for the narrow road on the Slow Way, meeting an oncoming car too fast, causing sudden breaking and horns tooting. The route joins the Serpent Trail in a pine plantation (Photo 11) on the way into Ambersham and Heyshott Commons. There is an issue on the approach to Midhurst where the route takes a footpath which was muddy and partially blocked by branches [SU896206] (Photo 13). The are plenty of amenities in Midhurst, and a bus depot I’m becoming familiar with on my visits to the South Downs....

Martin Ellis

I've walked sections of the Serpent trail a few times between Petersfield and Midhurst, so I was curious about this walk which bypasses sections of this route....

Stephen Drake

Sadly I had a foot problem and didn't manage my planned multi-day walk from Midhurst to Steyning (inc 2 other National Park Trail Slow Ways) but did manage this, without camping gear and over two days. Both days started midway at the route 99 bus stop on the A285 where there's a small outdoor café, would be no shelter in wet weather though it was actually glorious!....

Daisy C

The Midhurst sign declares it the ‘Heart of the South Downs National Park.’ There are bus links with Guildford, Petersfield and Chichester. The route meanders through fields and woods, passing goats and horses (Photos 4, 5 & 6). The walk into Nyewood was over sun-drenched fields and a stretch of former Rother Valley railway between Petersfield and Midhurst (Photos 7 & 8). The urban walk into the centre of Petersfield is partially avoided by Petersfield Heath and Pond (Photos 11 & 12)...

Martin Ellis

Petersfield is a beautiful historic town and this route goes by a large Petersfield pond where locals spend their leisure time. When the route reaches Dumpford, the public foothpath that it follows goes right next to a house with goats and a mini roundabout. The route there is accurate but it's hard to believe that walkers should continue right next to the wall of the large house....

Petr Sadilek

It was largely off-road and nicely varied: fields, forests, healthland and picturesque Sussex villages....

disastrophe

There are great views of the Weald and I think this is more pleasant and easier to follow than going west along the South Downs Way and into Cocking and then following the path back across Hoe Copse to Mill Lane....

Geoff Conway

Some of them are quite quiet but others such as Claypit Lane, past the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit, and Kennel Hill, from the motor circuit up to the racecourse are busy and unpleasant....

Geoff Conway

High traffic levels, high speed limit and limited amount of space available when cars pass all look pretty grim on Google Street View. Or you could keep the bones of this route (and all the lane walking) but lose the A286 and use the northern part of EmsMid 1 instead from where they cross....

Daisy C

The original route line rarely sits on top of the actual path, in places it's 200m away and at one point on the wrong side of a major A-road....

Daisy C

I did this route in two sections: Midhurst-> East Dean on 26/12/24 and Westergate -> East Dean on 26/12/23. The Northern half is lovely with lots of woods and nice views. The Southern half is more of a mixed bag, with the parts around Chichester and the A27 incurring a fair amount of misery, but acceptable....

srsaunders

There is a much straighter route mostly on public footpaths across the south of Midhurst Common, through The Warren over to the Minsted road, skirting the south of the sand pit to Fitzhall, over to Dumpford via Goldrings Farm, along the old railway line to avoid the road, then a short section of road in Nyewood before picking up the Serpents trail across to Down Park Farm and finally into Petersfield via Ryefields. This is easy to navigate and there are refreshments along the way at Sky Park and sometimes also at Henry Warren Hall in Nyewood....

malinka

A very nice route, although the GPX trail is not very accurate in places, just follow the obvious paths and you should be ok. Run in Feb 23, sections were very muddy/wet although they should dry up in the summer. Couple of kissing gates making it not suitable for larger buggies/wheelchairs...

codesmon

The route is particularly nice in its variety: some sections in woodland, some out in fields, lots of beautiful heathland....

Oliver

Most of the roads are single track back roads so quite quiet, however there were some parts on bigger roads without pavements so care is needed. The Serpent Trail is used both coming out of Petersfield and going into Midhurst, but make sure you turn off at the right point....

Penny

Unpleasant walking on busy roads south of Goodwood Triangle carpark SU87951134. There are much quieter routes into Chichester on the other side of the Trundle...

moschatel

In general, this route has issues with accuracy, as the route does not follow the paths outlined and therefore is actually longer by quite a distance. After getting to Wadesmarsh Farmhouse, the route tells you to turn east and then south, but the connection to the public footpath is cut off. While there was a footpath on the road, it was quite busy and unpleasant to walk on....

Ingrina

Nearest alternative pubs are the Halfway Bridge, a mile north of Selham, or the Badgers (recommended) beyond Duncton Common on the A285. Very muddy after recent rain between (say) Hurlands Farm (Selham) and the start of Duncton Common...

Jem

A couple of nice pubs en route at Henley and Fernhurst, plus a cafe at the cricket pavillion in Fernhurst....

rubble35