Bedham
Children will love playing in the woods and discovering an abandoned church on this walk. In summer, you might be lucky enough to time your visit with acres of poppies.
The abandoned church in the woods
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Distance: 4 km
Terrain: Mainly flat woodland paths with a few small climbs, sometimes muddy even in summer, paths uneven and rutted in places, a stile (with ‘dog flap’), one large field, short sections on very quiet country lanes
Pushchair: No - paths are uneven and various trees and branches across paths
Dogs: Yes - this is generally a very quiet area so if you prefer to walk your dog away from other dogs and people you will enjoy this one
Refreshments: None on the route, but most people will pass through Petworth to get to this walk and there are a plethora of brilliant eating and drinking opportunities there
Toilets: None
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location
Parking: There is an informal parking area at the side of Wakestone Lane on the approach to Bedham, if coming from the A272 . The area is at the edge of the woods at the point where the lane takes a large hairpin bend up a hill. If approaching from the A272, it is just after a dark wooden house with tree stumps lining their grass verge (Postcode: RH20 1JR - W3W: outlooks/prom/blows)
The whole area is surrounded in woodland
The standout feature of this walk is a lonely abandoned church tucked away in a quiet West Sussex woodland. It is a fascinating structure with a history that you can read more about below. Beyond the church is enchanting woodland in all directions with a multitude of paths and walking opportunities. We have recently updated this walk to a new route which passes through a magnificent poppy field, which is at its best in June.
The Route
Begin the walk by heading downhill along Wakehurst Lane. Before you arrive at the wooden house, look out for a footpath on your right. At the time of writing (June 2024), the finger post is half fallen down making it a bit harder to spot. The path will lead you into trees and to your left you should be able to make out the grounds of the house mentioned above. The path here is rutted and can be muddy. You will also need to watch out for a fallen tree and skirt around it. Look out for a finger post and a path on your right (if you reach the houses, you have gone too far). Take this path and head up hill.
This path is also quite rutted from use through the wet winter. You may need to walk up on the embankment. It will lead you up hill, where you will find the church in a clearing at the top. Once you have enjoyed the church, continue upwards to meet Wakehurst Lane again. Turn left at the lane (there is a water bowl for doggies here). Look out for a finger post on your right just before you get to the houses and head up the bank, leaving the lane.
At the top of this bank, the path will open up into a field, and if you are lucky enough to be here in June, you should be treated to the most magnificent display of poppies as far as the eye can see. However tempting they may be, please stay on the public right of way at all times. The field is private land and the public footpath is obvious as it snakes its way between the flowers down the field. When the flowers are growing, it is a tight squeeze along the narrow path! Even if you are not here in the flower season, the views from this field are still lovely.
At the middle of the field, there is a finger post, follow it to bare left down the field. At the bottom, you will see a log stack and a stile. Go over the stile (dog flap provided) and enter an area where trees have recently been felled. Spot the finger post and go straight ahead. This next section has a few brambles reaching into the path - long trousers advised. At the next finger post, at the T-junction, turn right. Once again, look out for the next finger post and quite soon turn right.
You will pass by a pond and then a wall, where there may be ducks, sheep and geese visible in the paddock beyond. Continue straight as a coppiced woodland comes into view on your left and glimpses of the poppy field to your right.
When you reach a farm track and a green ‘no right of way’ sign on a tree to your left, go straight ahead. Continue under the trees to a stile. You can actually fit around this one without going under. You will find yourself at the top edge of a field on the other side with a bank of bracken to your right and views to your left. On the other side of this field, you will reach a wooden gate.
Go through the gate and enter woodland. Follow the path until you reach another finger post at a cross path. Turn right here and by following this path straight through the woodland, you will eventually find yourself back at the parking area.
Did you know?
St Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church was built in 1880 and wasn’t actually just a church. It was also a school and served the local children. A screen separated the infants and the juniors in the tiny building. On Sundays, the desks were pushed out of the way and the residents would come to worship. The church closed in 1959 and has now fallen into ruin.
The small hamlet of Bedham has historically attracted creative people who have used the peaceful surroundings as a place of escape. Perhaps the most famous of these was Sir Edward Elgar who lived nearby and wrote some his most famous works using these very woods as inspiration.
