Distance: 4-5 miles. Time: about 2½ hours.
Please note this is a bank holiday as well as half term, so be prepared for traffic.
Meet at the West Town car park at 9:15 for car share. Set off by 9:30.
Make your way to Harting Down National Trust car park (su 790 181) which is at the top of the hill on the B2141 (see map above). Bring your National Trust cards and park for free. Also free for blue badge holders. Otherwise the parking charge is £2 per day.
This is a circular walk and is fairly easy walking and mostly shady.
Walk west. Cross B2141 and continue NW on the South Downs Way. Cross B2146 and continue NW before turning left down to round Copse Row and joining the Sussex border path at Foxcombe farm and cottages.
For those who want a slightly longer walk: turn west back onto the South Downs Way as far as 100 Acres. Return directly along the South Downs Way back to the National Trust car park. Distance: just over 5 miles.
Shorter walk: turn SE back along the South Downs Way to the National Trust car park. Distance: just over 4 miles.
After the walk there is a choice of lunch at the Victoria Inn, West Marden PO18 9EN (4.8m – 10 mins by car), or the Compton Village Store tea room PO18 9HA (4m – 8mins by car).
We'd need to phone the Victoria Inn with numbers before we leave so they can reserve a table. They will be very busy as they have a gin festival going on! The Inn serves food on Bank Holiday Monday from 12 noon to 3:30.
The tea room has limited seating and does not reserve tables.
Both venues have gluten free/vegetarian options available. Or, if weather is good, why not bring a picnic and stay on Harting Down and enjoy the views?
This is the route we took.