GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

The Trundle

1.24 miles (2 km)

Climb to Trundle Hill and enjoy wonderful views over the South Downs on this circular walk in the Chichester area. The Iron Age Hillfort sits in an elevated position on St Roche's Hill above Goodwood Racecourse, just to the south of the village of Singleton. You can park at the Seven Points car park, just to the west of the hill, at the end of Town Lane. From here you can pick up a section of the Monarch's Way long distance trail to take you up to the hill. From the 675 feet (206 m) summit there are great views of Sussex, Hampshire and the English Channel. You can turn it into a circular walk by continuing along the path towards Goodwood racecourse and then following another bridleway back to the car park.
The hill is part of the larger Goodwood Country Park where you can enjoy miles of walking trails through woodland and countryside.

Postcode

PO18 0SP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

The Trundle OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

The Trundle Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The area is very popular with dog walkers so you may see other owners on your visit. There are also miles of woodland trails surrounding the fort.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head west from the hill and you could pick up the Centurion Way. This easy shared cycling and walking trail runs along the old Midhurst and Chichester railway track from Chichester to West Dean.
The fort is one of the highlights on the New Lipchis Way, a long distance trail running from Hampshire based Liphook to Chichester Harbour in West Sussex.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

The Trundle, St.Roche's Hill, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 1757079

The Trundle, St.Roche's Hill, Sussex Hill fort on the summit of St.Roche's Hill. The circular earthworks can be seen, and a path runs along the top. At this exposed location, the effects of the wind can be felt when standing on the earthworks. However, the lee side of the earthworks is quite sheltered.

The Trundle. - geograph.org.uk - 176137

Trundle probably comes from the Old English trendel, a circle or hoop. The fort itself is circular in shape and is surrounded by a low circular rampart which is topped by a chalky path today.

View Towards Goodwood Racecourse - geograph.org.uk - 1756848

View Towards Goodwood Racecourse from the hill top. Horse racing has taken place at this course for more than 200 years. In this view, the main grandstand can be seen.

Trig Point on St.Roche's Hill, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 1757011

Trig Point on St.Roche's Hill. A chapel dedicated to St Roche was built on the hill around the end of the 14th century; it was in ruins by 1570. A windmill and a beacon were subsequently built on the hill. The site was occasionally used as a meeting place in the post-medieval period.

View Towards Charlton, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 1757018

View Towards Charlton. The village of Charlton sits in a valley; bounded by the A285 to the east, and the A286 to the west.

View Towards The Trundle, on St.Roche's Hill, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 1757897

View up towards The Trundle from the bottom of the hill. The raised earthworks can be seen, towards the centre of picture. The hillfort is still a sizable earthwork, but it wasn't discovered as a Neolithic site until 1925, when archaeologist O.G.S. Crawford took an aerial shot that showed more buildings inside the hillfort's ramparts. Only five causewayed enclosures were known at the time; the photograph convinced archaeologist E. Cecil Curwen to investigate the site in 1928 and 1930. These early excavations revealed the presence of the Neolithic site and assigned a building date for the hillfort of between 500 BC and 100 BC.

Path to The Trundle, St.Roche's Hill, Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 1757068

A lone walker on the stony path up to the hill.

Descent from The Trundle - geograph.org.uk - 2002633

On the descent with a seat to rest your legs on.

GPS Files

GPX File

The Trundle.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

The Trundle.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)