Clanfield
On this walk, children will enjoy a stop at Peel Park where there is plenty of play equipment.
The Basics
Time: 1hr 15mins
Distance: 5 km
Terrain: Field tracks, pavements and woodland paths
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes, but they are not allowed in the park
Refreshments: The Rising Sun, Clanfield
Toilets: None
Parking: Free car park at Peel Park on Chalton Lane (Postcode: PO8 0PR - W3W: stockpile/tides/out)
Nestled on the edge of The South Downs, Clanfield has woodland splashed with bluebells in spring and a park where children will want to stay all afternoon.
The Route
Leave the car park and turn left to walk along Chalton Lane. You will need to cross the road to get to the pavement. As you reach the bottom of the hill, take the first path on the left immediately after the bus stop.
Follow the path with fields and hedges on either side until you come out on Petersfield Lane. Cross the lane and take Thieve’s Lane directly opposite, passing a couple of houses on your left.
Continue ahead and the path will eventually curve to the left and enter woodland beside a gate that says ‘private’ (this is an excellent bluebell spot in spring). There is a huge beech tree, as pictured above, with logs scattered around which makes a nice place to rest and play.
Continue along the path as it gently rises and then as it leaves the woodland you can enjoy a beautiful view over the hedgerow to Clanfield and Windmill Hill beyond. Follow the track downhill to meet with North Lane.
You could walk directly down the quiet North Lane to get back to Clanfield, but we prefer to extend it slightly by taking the right turn along a bridle path into Lowton Copse/Little Hyden Woods. If it is bluebell season, then this diversion is an absolute MUST! The locals call this ‘Bluebell Wood’ for good reason!
Follow the bridle path as it cuts straight across the woods and then turn left when you hit the track on the opposite side of the woods. The track will eventually merge into the tarmacked Little Hyden Lane.
Follow the lane into the village, forking left by the school. Very shortly you will come to The Rising Sun on a junction.
Cross the road here and turn left to meet Chalton Lane again. Walk along the pavement, passing the duck pond on your right. Children will enjoy stopping here and viewing the bug hotel. Continue up the hill and cross the road to enter Peel Park.
We suggest viewing this map as a ‘Trails Map’ to ensure all the paths are visible:
Did you know?
Officially named Lowton Copse, but known to locals as Little Hyden Wood and Bluebell Woods, the area is privately owned by a local family who purchased the woodland in an attempt to conserve it and return it to its original state through a careful system of woodland management.