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.