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.

Near to

Slindon Estate

Start point

Park Lane car park, grid ref: SU960077

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.8 (km: 2.88)

Duration1 hour

Dog friendly***

*Easy terrain with mostly bridlepaths and a short stretch of pavement and road. For further details, please see section marked Terrain.
**Relatively well surfaced and suitable for pushchairs. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome but keep under control as livestock in surrounding fields. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

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.

Address
Slindon Estate, West Sussex.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Amberley and Barnham Stations are about 4 miles (6.4km) away. Call 0845 748 4950 or visit the National Rail website for details.
National Rail
On foot
Access is on Top Road, Slindon.
By bus
Regular Compass Bus Numbers 84/85 service between Worthing and Chichester stops at Fontwell village. Take London Road opposite bus stop, then turn left for the underpass beneath the A27. This brings you out on Dukes Road, next to Slindon South Lodge. Visit the Compass Travel website for more details.
Compass Travel
Cycling
Adjacent to National Cycle Network Route 22. Visit the Sustrans website for more details.
Sustrans
By road
Just to the east of the A27/A29 roundabout turn down Park Lane and 550yd (500m) along to the left is the Park Lane car park.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Park Lane car park, grid ref: SU960077
Stage 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.
Stage 2
Keep along the track for around 490yd (450m) until it goes through a gap in the pale, then turn right.
Stage 3
In around 380yd (350m) the pale bears right again.
Stage 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.
Stage 5
Within the next 275yd (250m) you pass through a stile, then the track joins a tarmac lane from your right.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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 | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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