Map: Explorer 120 - Chichester
Map ref for car park: SU791182
There is a choice of direction from the waymarker in the middle of the green lawn in front of the car park. To follow the walk I took today turn eastward, after admiring the view out over the village of South Harting to Torberry Hill and beyond. The path is well marked out and passes between trees to a gate. Go through the gate and out on to Harting Down.
Follow the South Downs Way along the top of the Down. The views over the valley are lovely and the hills in the distance seem to beckon the walker to discover their secrets.
Continue down the other side of Harting Down into Bramshott Bottom, past the waymarker in its broken cairn and choose from a variety of paths going up on to Beacon Hill. To follow my path, you will have to climb up the steep chalk path ahead which goes up to a gate. There are foot steps in the path and the grass either side to make the going a little easier. I found my walking poles to be invaluable here. After the gate, the ground rises still but less steeply. There is a trig just to the right of the path, and a bench. According to the map, this route is a bridle path!
Go over Beacon Hill and drop down steeply the other side. From here you may choose to continue on over Pen Hill to Mount Sinai. I choose to follow my planned route and passed around the base of Beacon Hill following the South Downs Way. It comes around the far end of the Hill and passes through a gate alongside wheatfields eventually coming back down into Bramshott Bottom.
From here follow the way back up to Harting Down. As you return, ahead you will see Tower Hill on which stands a ruin, probably dating from the Victorian age.
Continue along the path back through the gate to the car park and pass on through now heading west of the car park. You drop down through trees through Two Beech Gate and cross the B2141 to the path which leads you around Tower Hill. Be careful of the steep drop to the road below as the path continues. There is a kissing gate a little further round through which you can pass if you wish to climb up the field to see the ruined Tower at closer quarters. There are two five bar metal gates to pass through. Be sure to secure them properly both on the way in and out. Be aware that there may be livestock in the fields on this hill.
Come back down through the kissing gate to the path again and continue westward. Eventually you will come down to the B2146. Take care crossing this road, listening for approaching traffic as there are blind bends on both sides.
On the other side of the road is a waymarker explaining that the path ahead is a restricted by-way. There is also a path which goes down to the right waymarked to South Harting and lists its major features, including a shop, pub and B&B. This is a footpath only and comes out eventually into a structured park.
For now, follow the by-way, called Forty Acre Lane, alongside two crop fields, passing through a windbreak of trees half-way along. Continue until you come to a metalled road. There is a barn in the field to your right, and a red-brick house to your left. The road follows the Sussex Border Way and does not show as a road on the map because it is a private drive.
Pass down between steep-sided woodland until you come to the B2146 westward out of South Harting. Cross here and head up the public footpath which passes around the lower slopes of Little Torberry Hill. The footpath eventually comes out on to the West Harting Road. At the junction follow the road ahead signposted to West Harting, following the line of Torberry Hill. At the T-junction turn right towards South Harting.
Along this road there is a metal gate wired open, with an old tractor and horsebox off to one side. A fenced path leads up and from here it is possible to get on to Torberry Hill, a meadowland in Summer. There are various legends attached to Torberry Hill: it is the Devil's spoon, flung away in rage when his punch was too hot; there is gold hidden under the Hill; it can only be ploughed with a golden plough; and fairies dance on the Hilltop on Midsummer's Eve.
From the top of the Hill there is stunning view all around across the valley to the north; the Downs rolling away to the east, and West Harting Down rising behind to the west.
Return back down from Torberry Hill the way you came and continue right along the road until you reach a green path going down between two large cropfields with Torberry Hill to your right and the village of South Harting ahead with Harting Down rising behind. To your left is Manor House.
Cross the B2146 and walk up the metalled drive towards the farm buildings. Follow the footpath waymarkers to the left and along a lawned path between fences. The path turns left and right again past the church and into the village. You need to turn right to pass alongside the church, but take great care as there is no pavement. Walk along the road and pass to the right of a small walled car park into a park beyond. This is the park mentioned above. With trees on your left, walk through the park and into the woodland beyond. There are several paths waymarked into the woods. Take the path straight ahead. The climb although not steep is long. Eventually you come out at the post with the South Harting information panel on it. Turn left and cross the road to pass back around Tower Hill and follow the way back, across the B2141 again and slightly uphill, returning to the car park on Harting Down.
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