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Sheep in the parkland at Slindon Estate, West Sussex
Sheep in the parkland at Slindon Estate | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Sussex

Slindon medieval park pale and village walk

This circular walk passes through Slindon's medieval deer park, following the route of its pale and through the unspoilt downland village of Slindon. There is plenty to enjoy on this trail at the Slindon Estate in West Sussex, which is the National Trust's largest traditional estate on the South Downs.

Trail diversion

In late summer and autumn, visitors can usually take a trail diversion to a display of pumpkins. The pumpkin display has temporarily closed, so please do not take the detour and continue on the main route.

Total steps: 8

Total steps: 8

Start point

Park Lane car park, grid ref: SU960077

Step 1

Take the middle track from the car park away from the road. After around 275yd (250m) turn through the first gate to your left. Continue for 545yd (500m) through the woodland, usually rich with bluebells in May, till you meet a bank slanting in from the left. This is known as the pale.

Step 2

Keep along the track for around 490yd (450m) until it goes through a gap in the pale, then turn right.

Step 3

In around 380yd (350m) the pale bears right again.

Step 4

In around 545yd (500m), behind a yew tree to your left, you can take a brief detour down a signed track to the early Stone Age raised beach. Back to the pale and to your left just before it bends right, you can see Druid's Grove.

Step 5

Within the next 275yd (250m) you pass through a stile, then the track joins a tarmac lane from your right.

Step 6

The Regency tea-room as it was before the Second World War was described by Sir John Pope-Hennessy as having a 'Trafalgar balcony', inferring some of the structure was cast-iron. The tea-room burned down in the early 1940s.

Step 7

In another 275yd (250m) the lane meets Top Road. Go right and follow the path that winds through the trees just back from the road. Step over a low wall, then follow Top Road beside Slindon House, now used by Slindon College. At the next turning, go right down Church Hill.

Step 8

Go down Church Hill until it bears left at the bottom, to your right is the village pond. Immediately after the pond, turn right, go through the gate, fork left and follow the cobbled path though the woods until you return to the car park.

End point

Park Lane car park, grid ref: SU960077

Trail map

Slindon medieval park pale and village walk trail map
Slindon medieval park pale and village walk trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Slindon, near Arundel, West Sussex

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