Woolbeding Countryside
Experience a landscape shaped by traditional rural life
Woolbeding Countryside
Facilities and access
Woolbeding Countryside
Overview
Experience a landscape shaped by traditional rural life
Woolbeding Estate in West Sussex is quietly tucked away in the tranquil Rother Valley. With its wide horizons and intimate secluded places, this huge estate has an extraordinary blend of habitats.
To the north are the wild and open greensand hills and commons. To the south take in glorious views from the parkland and wander along the River Rother with its steep-sided woods and pasture. It is an example of a mediaeval strip parish, divided by earth banks secured with stone-faced walls, marking boundaries between common and agricultural land.
Woolbeding Common is a lowland heath supporting rare birds such as woodlark and nightjar. Reptiles thrive here among heather and gorse together with specialist insects such as long-horned beetles.
Grazing by traditional hardy breeds maintains diverse, high-quality habitats. Old Spot and Saddleback pigs root down and break up the bracken rhizomes. Belted Galloway cows target graze the heath, and in the parkland browse alongside Sussex cows and Herdwick sheep. Their pasture lies beside the snaking loops of the River Rother shaded by magnificent oaks.
Woolbeding Countryside
How to get here
- Address
- Woolbeding Estate Office, Woolbeding, West Sussex, GU29 9RR
- By cycle
- From Chichester take Centurion Way to West Dean. Midhurst is a further 6 miles north on A286. Or use an OS map (Explorer 133) to work out the best route using the quiet back lanes from surrounding areas.
- On foot
- From Midhurst Bus Station, cross to north side of A286/North Street, go downhill past Rother College towards the weir before North Bridge, follow the signs for the River Rother Walk: this takes you into Woolbeding Parkland, with further signposted routes into the Estate. Woolbeding Common is on the Serpent Trail, connecting local heathlands.
- By train
- Haslemere Station, 8 miles away. From there, take Stagecoach bus 70 or 71 towards Midhurst bus station. From Midhurst take Stagecoach 92 towards Petersfield, alight Half Moon pub, 1 mile from Midhurst. From here, follow public footpaths down to the Parkland and River Rother.
- By road
- Woolbeding estate is 1 miles west of Midhurst. There are 2 small car parks. From Midhurst take the A272 towards Petersfield. After the Half Moon pub take the right turn signposted Woolbeding. The Rother Walk/Woolbeding Parkland car park is in the first field on the right. For Older Hill, continue along the road. At the junction turn left up the hill. Continue along and turn right at the Older Hill sign until you reach the car park.
- Parking: Parking is free
- SatNav:
- By bus
- From Midhurst bus station take Stagecoach 92 towards Petersfield, alight Half Moon pub, 1 mile from Midhurst. From here, follow public footpaths down to the Parkland and River Rother.
Woolbeding Countryside
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
Woolbeding Countryside
Opening times
Wednesday 28 September
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 29 September
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 30 September
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 1 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Sunday 2 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 3 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 4 October
- Countryside Dawn to dusk