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West Sussex Literary Trail

55.3 miles (89 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk runs from Horsham to Chichester with many literary connections along the way. The walk begins at Horsham, near Percy Bysshe Shelley's millennium fountain, and heads through the South Downs to Chichester with its connections to William Blake and John Keats.
You will pass through a series of interesting and picturesque towns and villages including Sinfield, Storrington, Amberley and Duncton before finishing near the iconic cathedral in Chichester.
There are many fascinating landmarks and points of interest on the way but of particular note are some of the musuems on the route. First on the path is the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre. Set in a 36 acre site it details the industrial heritage of the South East with a a narrow-gauge railway and nostalgic bus service to experience.
Near the start of the route at Horsham you will pass through the lovely Warnham Park. The park includes an internationally famous herd of Red Deer renowned for producing superb antlers.
Also on the route is Rackham Woods and the delightful Parham House. Located near Storrington, this Elizabethan House boasts a Great Hall and Long Gallery, while the Gardens consist of seven acres of Pleasure Grounds.
Finally, there is the fascinating Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester. The museum boasts '45 historic houses and agricultural buildings dating from the 13th century to victorian times rebuilt in a magnificent parkland setting'.
Other walk highlights include waterside stretches along the River Arun and around Burton Mill Pond and several wooded sections at various points along the walk.

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West Sussex Literary Trail OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

West Sussex Literary Trail Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Cricketers in Duncton is a nice place to stop for a rest and some refreshment. The 16th century pub is nestled in a lovely spot in the Goodwood Hills. There's a charming interior with a cosy inglenook fireplace for those chilly winter days. Outside there's lovely gardens if the sun is shining. You can find them in the pretty village at postcode GU28 0LB for your sat navs. The pub is also dog friendly if you are out walking with your canine friend.

Photos

Rising Universe (Shelley Fountain) - geograph.org.uk - 657948

Rising Universe (Shelley Fountain). Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Horsham at Field Place on August 4th 1792. In 1892, while the world’s press celebrated the centenary of his birth, the only recognition given to Shelley by Horsham was a plaque placed in Horsham’s parish church. However, by 1992 there were many events celebrating Shelley’s Bicentenary in Horsham and Warnham, and it was resolved to mark his contribution to art and culture in a permanent and tangible way. Sculptor Angela Conner produced a bold and imaginative sculpture which vividly conveys the modern non-conformist nature of Horsham's famous poet. This strikingly modern sculpture is an apt symbol for a man greatly admired for his revolutionary and visionary ideas. The globe section of the sculpture fills with water which brings it down the central column - then, as has been caught in this picture, the water is released and the globe rises back up the column.

On the West Sussex Literary Trail - geograph.org.uk - 1073847

Looking back to Manor Farm at Singleton, the village lies beyond.

Waymarks on Trundle gatepost - geograph.org.uk - 1073878

Waymarks on Trundle gatepost. Popular place for walkers where the West Sussex Literary Trail, The Monarch's Way and the New Lipchis Way all pass. (The original Lipchis Way also passed here in its day.)

Poet John Keats, by sculptor Vincent Gray

August 2017 installation in Chichester, West Sussex, UK of a sculpture of poet John Keats seated on bench by Vincent Gray.

Duncton Mill - geograph.org.uk - 2696392

Duncton Mill

Pond, Warnham Park - geograph.org.uk - 2472380

Pond, Warnham Park

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum - geograph.org.uk - 389761

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Windpump from Pevensey, Sussex. Within the hollow centre post an iron rod transmits energy to the water pump below.

Chichester Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 2216248

Chichester Cathedral

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

West Sussex Literary Trail.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)
NB GPS file for this route only details route start - route is waymarked from there in

Memory Map Route

West Sussex Literary Trail.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)