Benbow Pond
On this walk, children will enjoy the geese, ducks and black swans around the pond as well as some record breaking trees.
The Basics
Time: 35 mins
Distance: 1.9 km
Terrain: Fields and grassy paths. Mainly flat with an optional steady incline.
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes, under close control
Refreshments: The Cowdray Farm Shop and Café are a very short drive away
Toilets: None
Public Transport: Stagecoach service 1 from Worthing to Midhurst and service 422 from Northchapel to Midhurst stop on the main road by the entrance to the pond
Parking: Free car park beside pond (Postcode: GU28 0AZ - W3W: stormed/taxpayers/models)
This is an easy walk around a section of the Cowdray Estate near Midhurst, with some interesting historical trees as well as a pond with ducks, geese and black swans to feed.
The Route
The walk starts at the far end of the car park. Go through the gap in the post and rail fencing and follow the path straight ahead. At the hedge/fence, take the footpath to the left along the edge of the Cowdray Arboretum. After a few minutes of walking, you will spot a gate on your right where the footpath heads into a field.
Go through the gate and ahead of you will be an enclosure hiding Stewards Pond behind a lot of bushes, shrubs and trees. Head towards the right hand corner of the enclosure and then walk with the enclosure to your left. You will soon see an avenue of lime trees planted to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee leading away from you.
Walk up the field through the avenue of trees. A brief diversion to your left at the very start of the avenue is worthwhile to see The Queen Elizabeth Oak. The tree has an unusually wide, hollow girth and a little protective fence around it. It is special both because of its age - over 1000 years - and because another Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth I, is thought to have stood under its boughs *.
The avenue will take you across the width of the field and then bring you to a gate in the hedge. Turn immediately right after the gate and follow the footpath down the edge of the field. Go through the gate at the end and walk straight ahead to return to the car park.
*at this point of the walk, you could continue past the Queen Elizabeth Oak and walk with the enclosure to your left. Continue beyond the enclosure until you reach a boundary ahead of you. There will be a gate into the arboretum ahead to your left and a grassy path going up the hill to your right. Go up the grassy path until you near the edge of Broomhill Enclosure and then fork right. This path will take you around the top of the hill where there are some nice views. You should see the avenue of limes just beneath you to the right, and you should walk parallel to this, but at a greater height. Look out for the Cowdray Colossus in a paddock to your left. This is England’s biggest sweet chestnut tree. Just after this, the path will descend to re-join the avenue of limes. Turn left and go through the gate to re-join the walk at point 4 above.
Did you know?
Benbow pond is a feature in the 16,500-acre Cowdray Estate owned by Viscount Cowdray. Cowdray Park is now a hotel and venue and is home to a golf course, polo club, holiday lets and the heritage ruins of the original Tudor house.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…you should really try adding on this walk at Cowdray ruins with an extension to Easebourne Park
