Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Chalton Walk on 9th October 2024

From the Red Lion car park in Chalton, Jay led us on a walk through to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Taking the Staunton Way path we found our way through Chalton Park and eventually reached the Queen Elizabeth Forest.  After skirting the edge of the forest we turned up hill to eventually reach the site of a Roman Villa. Little remains today but it would originally have been an ideal spot for watching shipping in Chichester Harbour. Continuing on the Shipwrights Way we found our drink stop, upturned logs being available to most of us.

Refreshed we soon turned south and eventually found the Staunton Way once again. The more straighforward way was to return via the road but a diversion near to Newbarn Cottage avoided the traffic and took us through an area of large beech trees below Head Down Hanger where the strong sunlight trying to penetrate the canopy was a remarkable sight. We still had to do a road stretch before finding a path up to Chalton Peak and then on to the Red Lion where we were rewarded for our efforts with a great lunch. The walk was about 6 miles.

Leaving Chalton village

Skirting the fields in Chalton Park

Nearing the Forest, Chichesetr Harbour is down there somewhere,,,,,,,,

Turning into the Forest, Chalton Down to our left

Autumn is getting closer!

Location of Roman Villa, sea visible if it wasn't for all those trees!

Replica model on the top

Forest drink stop

Seating generally available

Although some seats were some way away!

Now, where shall we go from here?

The enchanting beech wood

Magic!

Hampshire's version of the Sycamore Gap tree

Walking up towards Chalton Peak

Stone, Iron and Roman Age buildings at the Butser Ancient Farm

Inside the Red Lion, merely dating back to the 12th Century

Roughly 6 miles

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