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Woolbeding Countryside
Experience a landscape shaped by traditional rural life
South Downs West Estate Yard, Linch Road, Woolbeding, West Sussex, GU29 0QB
No toilets. Dogs on leads welcome. Paths can become muddy and hard to navigate in wet weather and may not be suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs. Some steep gradients.
By road
Please note that camping and overnight stays are not permitted in any of our car parks. Woolbeding estate is 1 miles west of Midhurst. There are 2 small car parks. From Midhurst take the A272 towards Petersfield. After the Half Moon pub take the right turn signposted Woolbeding. The Rother Walk/Woolbeding Parkland car park is in the first field on the right. For Older Hill, continue along the road. At the junction turn left up the hill. Continue along and turn right at the Older Hill sign until you reach the car park.
Parking: Parking is free
Sat Nav: River Rother/Parkland car park: Nearest post code GU29 9RL What3Words ///pizzas.reassured.before Grid Ref SU874218 Older Hill car park: Nearest post code GU29 0QB What3Words ///stores.flickers.asked Grid Ref SU869260
On foot
From Midhurst Bus Station, cross to north side of A286/North Street, go downhill past Rother College towards the weir before North Bridge, follow the signs for the River Rother Walk: this takes you into Woolbeding Parkland, with further signposted routes into the Estate. Woolbeding Common is on the Serpent Trail, connecting local heathlands.
By train
Haslemere Station, 8 miles away. From there, take Stagecoach bus 70 or 71 towards Midhurst bus station. From Midhurst take Stagecoach 92 towards Petersfield, alight Half Moon pub, 1 mile from Midhurst. From here, follow public footpaths down to the Parkland and River Rother.
By bus
From Midhurst bus station take Stagecoach 92 towards Petersfield, alight Half Moon pub, 1 mile from Midhurst. From here, follow public footpaths down to the Parkland and River Rother.
By bicycle
From Chichester take Centurion Way to West Dean. Midhurst is a further 6 miles north on A286. Or use an OS map (Explorer 133) to work out the best route using the quiet back lanes from surrounding areas.
South Downs West Estate Yard, Linch Road, Woolbeding, West Sussex, GU29 0QB
Planning your visit
Article
Visiting the South Downs with your dog
Find out about bringing your dog to the South Downs. Explore the beautiful landscape together, from cliff-tops and beaches to ancient downland.
Highlights
Countryside
A landscape shaped by traditional rural life, tucked away in the tranquil Rother Valley.
Outdoor activities
Activity
Mountain biking on the Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire borders
Find out where you can go mountain biking at Black Down, Woolbeding Common, Ludshott Common and Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punch Bowl, while protecting these habitats.
Top trails
Trail
Woolbeding, River Rother and Midhurst walk
Enjoy this easy walk along the River Rother starting and returning to Midhurst's charming main street.
About Woolbeding Countryside
Woolbeding Estate in West Sussex is quietly tucked away in the tranquil Rother Valley. With its wide horizons and intimate secluded places, this huge estate has an extraordinary blend of habitats.
To the north are the wild and open greensand hills and commons. To the south take in glorious views from the parkland and wander along the River Rother with its steep-sided woods and pasture. It is an example of a mediaeval strip parish, divided by earth banks secured with stone-faced walls, marking boundaries between common and agricultural land.
Woolbeding Common is a lowland heath supporting rare birds such as woodlark and nightjar. Reptiles thrive here among heather and gorse together with specialist insects such as long-horned beetles.
Grazing by traditional hardy breeds maintains diverse, high-quality habitats. Old Spot and Saddleback pigs root down and break up the bracken rhizomes. Belted Galloway cows target graze the heath, and in the parkland browse alongside Sussex cows and Herdwick sheep. Their pasture lies beside the snaking loops of the River Rother shaded by magnificent oaks.
Our work
Article
Our work in the Woolbeding countryside
Allowing ancient breeds of cows and sheep to graze the countryside at Woolbeding helps conservation efforts by encouraging biodiversity and supporting a wide range of wildlife.