Compton Down

Sometimes it's really good to get away from it all, especially on a bank holiday when the roads are jammed. This walk around the downs to the west of the pretty village of Compton covers paths that are relatively lightly used and well away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. It's about five miles long with a few gentle ascents, wonderful views and a great sense of tranquility.

The start is in the village square where you can get a coffee if you need one to get moving. Take the road to West Marden south for a few hundred yards where you will find the first path well signposted. This leads through some pleasant fields and a small wood before meeting the lane along the field boundary and a junction with two other paths. Take the right hand path which leads  up the hill and around an area  of woodland.

If you have a dog it's a sensible precaution here to keep it on a lead as there are several areas of cover planted for pheasants with feeders; it's not a good move to get on the bad books  of the local keeper!

The day we went for this walk was at the end of August (Bank holiday Monday!) and was warm and sunny, ideal for butterflies which were flitting around along the margins of the path.

As you come round the top of the wood it's made clear that the path ahead is out of bounds with the footpath continuing to the right dropping

down to a junction with a bridleway in some woods. Care has to be taken here as there's a short footpath that cuts across two bridleways that can be confusing. The woods make a pleasant change, especially on a sunny day, the cool moist air is refreshing after walking over the hot fields.

The path then heads across several fields gently rising to to a trig point at the summit of the Down. These fields are particularly well managed for wild life with extensive field margins and plenty of trees at the boundaries as well as hedges. Plenty of small mammals attracts many raptors which can be seen soaring on the Downs here, not only Kestrels and Buzzards
but Sparrow Hawks too.

The view at the summit is limited as the trig point is away from the path and the south west obscured. Other directions are much better,  with outstanding views. Ditcham Park School stands out on the hillside to the north west as does Uppark to the north east.

It's an easy walk along the road past the only habitation on the
walk, Ekkensfield for half a mile or so. The route then follows a path across some fields that, in late summer, had just been ploughed up and rolled. In most places its not too difficult to see where to go on the other side but care needs to be taken.

Assuming that you can find the path, you'll pass over two narrow roads and arrive at the foot of Compton Down which is quite dramatic when compared with the downs we've walk over. It's always good to see a hill or two!

From then onwards it's a short descent to the road and then into the village where we started. If it's warm you might appreciate a pint from the excellent selection of beers that the landlord at the Coach and Horses maintains is this classic village pub that seems to evoke an age some time ago which was more leisurely. The food is good too and in winter a roaring fire would be just right after a cold walk.

Harting Down

This may be a relatively short walk but it's a very different part of the Downs where the views are simply stunning with a varied landscape. The start is on the Chichester to Petersfield road just before South Harting where you can find a National Trust car park just off the road.

The car park gets a bit busy but fortunately once on your way most of the people seem to disappear.  The path to take leads north east away from the car park up a slight incline.

The path follows the crest of a steep escapement, very soon there are wonderful views to the north and the pretty village of South Harting. The path runs parallel with a bridleway and as you rise to the top of Round Down the views just get better and better; to be savoured not rushed!

The path then descends through some patches of trees  to the

bottom of a valley where there is a junction with a path leading south down the valley and one climbing steeply up Beacon Hill; unfortunately that's the one to take! There's a good view of it on the way down and although steep, like most in the Downs it's not long and well worth the climb.

This is typical downland and, at the time of writing in high summer was still covered in flowers although many were past their best. There were plenty of songbirds too but as it was later in the year we relatively quiet.

Once the summit is reached there are even more impressive views, not only to the north but to the south right up to Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. The Trig point on the summit confirms that there's no more climbing!

You then need to take an attractive path south towards, but not as far as, Telegraph House. Just before it there's a trailing fork that you need to take, almost going back on yourself. It's not far along this path to a junction where you can head through woods in the right direction, South West, once more.

On a hot sunny day it's pleasant to be in the shade out of the direct sunlight as you pass though
woodlands punctuated by open sections of grassland. It's all National Trust land and maintained in the traditional manner by grazing it. The path makes a gentle descent to the floor of the valley, where it makes a junction with other paths enabling it to be extended or shortened as you please.

What goes down, comes back up again and the footpath straight ahead is the one to take rising through the woods. These appear to be quite ancient with many yews and is reminiscent of Kingsley Vale. It's a pleasant climb which soon approaches the main road once more; it's a shame that it's so busy with an excess of road noise. Fortunately the footpath keeps a bit further away from the road than the bridlepath and skirts rounds the edge of a field.

All too soon we're back at the car park. It's only three and a half miles but there's a quite a bit of climbing to give us some exercise. It's good in bad weather and as there's no pheasants close by it's ok for dogs as long as there's no livestock grazing.