Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Cocking Hill walk on 8th April 2026

Julie had certainly picked some glorious weather for her first try at leading a walk.  It was the warmest day of the year so far and reached 26 degrees in some places in the country. Luckily it wasn't quite so warm on Cocking Hill as we set off climbing slowly upwards on The South Downs Way.  A slight turn south and the gradient was much flatter and another turn south and we were passing through Venus Wood and later Westdean Woods. The area was covered in bluebells and was quite spectacular. A little further on and we found plenty of seats in the charcoal burners yard for a good stopping point to have a drink. Suitably refreshed we set off on the second part of our journey down towards Colworh Farm and beyond until we eventually found the A286 road. With a variety of final routes to the Pub, we all managed to make it back in good time for a well-earned drink and  lunch. A great walk, Julie!  After lunch we all caught the bus back up to the  top of Cocking Hill.

We had travelled in and around the West Dean Estate for much of the morning. The estate is part of the Edward James Foundation, a charity that owns and runs West Dean College as well as maintaining the surrounding woodlands. When the boilers in the college failed, biomass boilers using wood from the estate replaced the old coke boilers and have proved very successful. Click here  West Dean   to read more about this great charity.

A shady spot needed before the walk

Climbing up The Southdowns Way

Beautiful view from high up Cocking Hill

Last of the hill, now for the downside

It wasn't all hills, there were some flattish parts

In some places, our way was a little obstructed!

Bluebells everywhere

Coffee stop at the charcoal burners

Chatting time

This tractor just wouldn't start so we carried on walking

After our break we headed for Colworth Farm

Nearly at the end of our walk, passing under the old railway bridge that used to carry the Midhurst to Chichester railway

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