SDW & Goodwood Circuit, South Downs

Today I wanted to go back to Goodwood and take the West Sussex Literary trail up to the SDW, along the ridge west to New Lipchis way, down to Singleton, before returning via the Trundle. We parked in the Goodwood country park car park at the eastern end of the racecourse.

Leaving the car under the shade of the trees we set off across the car park towards the racecourse, coming out of the hedge at a junction of paths.

Across the road we took the lane that followed the side of the racecourse, with occasional views across the hedge and down the main straight to the grandstand.

Continuing down the track beside the edge of the race track 

The track (chalk road) curved away form the racecourse and dropped down into the valley beyond. We had occasional views across to Green Hill on the other side.

The track ended in the village of Charlton, where we navigated the roads to end at the parking area leading to north lane.

North lane took us into  the lower south slopes of the South Downs - the downs angle sharply to the north, but this side is much more relaxed.

We could have followed North lane all the way up to the ridge, however it looked far more interesting to continue on the Literary trail, which split off and climbed up North Down, around the back of Green Hill.

A strange narrow ploughed strip, and then meadow grass prairie up to the beginning of the woods that would lead all the way up to the ridge..

Where we entered the woods the track was winding through the trees heading generally in the direction towards the ridge.

However at a junction of trails where harvesting had been in operation the track became a graded road.

Three quarters of the way through the woods we passed the reason for all the road way renovation works.

Approaching the ridgeline across Broad walk, before leaving the trees onto the open ridgeline.

On the rounded ridge at the top of the South Downs, following the SDW to the west.

We could juct about see the view to the north over the hedges lining the roadway followed by the SDW

Continuing on the SDW to the junction with the New Lipchis way

Back into the trees following a well used track dropping gently down crossing tracks and firebreaks.

Leaving the forest at Burntoak gate (no gate or oak tree), looking forward to Levin Down where we would follow the trail angling to the right.

An interesting signpost at a complex junction, however we were headed up the slope to the right across the meadow

Gently climbing and traversing around Levin Down, with the views gradually opening as we came around

The views across towards Portsmouth.

As we came around we could see across to the racecourse grandstand, before turning away to begin the descent.

Dropping down to Singleton, with views f the climb up to the masts on the skyline.

Through the village looking for the path south. We found it beside the church in a narrow twitten 

Beyond and into the yard of manor farm, climbing the grass slope beyond, and then a footpath between fields.

Looking over the slope as it eased up towards the Trundle and the grandstand.

The path left the fields onto a back road leading to the car park below the Trundle.

The steep path up the trundle, with the masts on the top

The view south over the trig point

Leaving the top and dropping down towards the grandstand, trying to find the track of the Monarch's way

Eventually hiding in the scrub we found the broken gate, and followed a narrow track down the slope until we picked up a bridleway.

We had to follow the road around the side of the racecourse, in a big U bend.

We then used the car parks to bypass walking on the road past all the private entrances.

We followed the road back to the car park - we could have gone through the country park plantation, but this was simpler.