RICHARD WILLIAMSON COUNTRY WALK...Wepham Woods

Two miles east of Arundel are Warningcamp and Wepham Downs and the woods of Angmering Estate for this 4.2-mile (6.8km) woodland and downland walk.

Grass verge parking TQ046074 on sharp bend on minor road. Walk northeast on track past Hill Barn into old woodlands with five crossway.

Right along Monarch’s Way and then quickly left on the second of two blue bridleway signs that go northeast. This takes you into Tenantry Copse along an old shaw way with hazel woods and old beech trees on the banks.

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A lot of woodpeckers, nuthatches and marsh tits enjoy the dead timber here and there.

Deep pits along the way are presumably ancient pits where flint was quarried to make this track hard enough for timber carts.

After about a mile you start to emerge from woods called Drillsfield Copse (there is some military significance here?) to follow an old cranky hedge of mis-shapen oaks and hawthorns.

Views of Houghton chalk quarry, Bignor Hill and Arundel Castle, 400 yards after the wood turn right to cross the coll of Barpham Hill, keeping trig. point to your left.

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This is a good place to lunch to enjoy views if you have picked a clear day. Wonderful views too of the downland plateau.

Sharp right to Upper Barpham Farm, and trickle south west through the harvest fields downhill ensuring you take the blue arrows right, off the farm road. Pine wood to left, open meadows right at Upper Oldfield Copse.

It is a pleasant place with wild flowers including wild strawberries in the hedges and blackcap warblers still in song. Soon you rejoin Monarch’s Way which is a smooth metalled track west into the 60 year old beech plantations.

You stay on the road southwest through Upper Wepham Woods back to the five crossway earlier in the walk. Hill Barn Road will take you back to the old leather seats of the Alvis not quite as tatty as were the Morris Minor’s (mice to blame unless it’s old age – seats not driver I say) but there is a curious diversion by continuing awhile on the Monarch’s Way down a slippery path westward to see the lovely chalk grassland plants on the steep quarried slopes. Blackberries, wild roses, Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon and bird’s foot trefoil.

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Wild basil and whitethroat warblers if you like and your ears and eyes are tuned to such things. But for heaven’s sake keep left, left, left otherwise you will end up in either Arundel or Amberley, even Storrington.

Hope I’ve made the map clear enough on that point. More lovely views to keep you occupied as you savour the delights to come of a ride in a classic pile while climbing the bridleway back uphill between the splendid hedges.

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