Burpham Circular
Starting at the pretty, rural village of Burpham, this walk heads straight up into the undulating scenery of the South Downs. The route gently climbs for the first mile or two along a farm track, then follows well-surfaced paths through folds in the hills, offering fantastic views throughout. The last third descends down towards the River Arun and skirts water meadows before looping back into Burpham.
Map & Info
Quick Details
Start / finish
Burpham Village Hall car park (free)
Distance / ascent / time est.
5.7 miles / 376ft / 2-3hrs
Surface / terrain
Tracks, lanes & footpaths / undulating
Stiles / road crossings
No stiles / no road crossings
Other info
N / A
Blue square = 1km sq
Numbers correspond to directions below
Written Directions
+ use the images below for additional guidance!
Walk out the car park, past the George Pub on your right, and turn right onto the road. Stay on the road as it bears sharp left onto The Street (1), and keep walking until a junction where the road bears sharp right. At this point, leave the road and carry straight on in the direction you’ve been walking, onto the track (2).
Stay on the track as it gently climbs for about a mile and a half, passing Burpham High Barn (2a) about halfway along, until you eventually reach a T-junction. Turn left (3) onto the chalky bridleway.
This track has some short but steep ups and downs, and then reaches a T-junction – turn left (4).
A few yards later, take the track curving off to the right (4a) and keep following it through a small copse (4b). Keep straight on, on the narrowing path, until it joins a wider track (5) a short while later.
Stay on this track (5a) as it starts to descend and, after a metal gate, becomes a tarmac / gravelly lane. If it’s a clear day, you’ll enjoy splendid views of Arundel Park all the way down.
After about a mile (just under), you’ll see a metal gate on your left (keep a close eye out for this as it’s missable!) – go through (6, 6a, 6b), almost doubling back on yourself, to join the signposted bridleway. This path leads downwards and diagonally through a sloping field. At the bottom, pass through the gate (6c) and keep to the left alongside the treeline.
Soon you’ll pass through another metal gate, then the path narrows (6d), with reeds on the right and a tree-covered chalk escarpment on the left.
After bearing left, the grassy path twists sharply to the right (7) – just keep on it, enjoying views across the water meadows of the escarpment you’ve just walked alongside.
After a while, the path widens out and turns into a track, which twists up to the left (just stay on it), then undulates along with trees either side, until it reaches Peppering High Barn.
Keep going straight on (8). The track turns into a lane, which takes you back into Burpham, past the church and to the start of the walk.
Photographic Directions
(Hover & use arrows to scroll)
