Walking on the Goodwood Estate
Footpaths, trails and downland rambles across the sporting estate
The Goodwood estate and its surrounding landscape offer some of the finest walking in West Sussex. The combination of open downland, ancient woodland, parkland and village paths provides variety that suits everyone from casual strollers to committed long-distance walkers. The South Downs National Park, which encompasses the higher ground of the estate, ensures that the landscape is protected and managed for public access and enjoyment.
The most popular walk on the estate is the route to The Trundle, the Iron Age hillfort that sits on the summit of St Roche's Hill above the racecourse. The walk from Goodwood to The Trundle takes approximately forty-five minutes at a steady pace and climbs around 200 metres through chalk grassland and scrubby woodland. The views from the summit are among the finest in Sussex, extending across the coastal plain to Chichester, the harbour, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. On a clear day, the view south encompasses the entire sweep of the coast from Selsey Bill to Hayling Island.
The South Downs Way, the national trail that runs from Winchester to Eastbourne, crosses the high ground above Goodwood. Walkers tackling the full trail or individual sections can incorporate a visit to Goodwood into their route, descending from the ridge to explore the estate before climbing back to the Downs. The section of the South Downs Way between Cocking and Amberley, which passes through the beech hangers above the Lavant valley, is one of the most scenic stretches of the entire trail.
The parkland around Goodwood House is accessible on foot, and walks through the estate's grounds take in mature specimen trees, designed landscape features and views of the house itself. The parkland is at its most beautiful in spring, when the mature trees come into leaf and the understorey is carpeted with bluebells, and in autumn, when the beech and oak turn gold and copper against the grey of the chalk Downs.
The woodland walks through Charlton Forest, to the north and west of the estate, follow ancient tracks through coppiced hazel and mature beech. These woods are rich in wildlife, and walkers may encounter deer, foxes, badgers and a variety of woodland birds. The forest tracks are muddy in winter and can be challenging in wet weather, but in summer they provide shaded, cool walking that is a welcome relief from the exposed downland.
Circular walks from the villages of Lavant, Singleton and East Lavant combine village paths with downland climbs and woodland sections. These walks of two to four hours take in the varied landscape of the estate and its surroundings, and they can be extended or shortened according to energy and time. The pubs in each village provide convenient refreshment stops, and planning a walk around a pub lunch is a time-honoured tradition in this part of Sussex.
The estate publishes walking guides and maps, and waymarking on the principal routes is generally good. The South Downs National Park Authority also produces walking leaflets for the area. Dogs are welcome on most routes but should be kept on leads where livestock is present, particularly during the lambing season in spring.