Catherington Lith
Children will enjoy searching for the wooden carvings scattered throughout this walk.
The woodland of Catherington Lith fills with anemones in spring
The Basics
Time: 50 mins
Distance: 2.8 km
Terrain: Fields, woodland paths, flat. Fields can be muddy in winter.
Pushchair: No
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: The Farmer Inn or a picnic area in paddock next to car park
Toilets: None
Public Transport: There are no public transport options at this location
Parking: Free car park opposite the school (Postcode: PO8 0TD - W3W - origins/essential/restriction)
Some of the tree sculptures hidden around the lith
Whilst the grown ups admire the bluebells, wood anemone and other flowers that grow in this little woodland in spring, children can be kept entertained as they look out for the exquisite tree carvings hidden throughout this walk.
The Route
Leave the car park, cross the road and turn left along the pavement. Walk to the church and cross the graveyard to the far boundary. Here there is a gate in the hedge with a footpath sign leading out into a paddock.
Turn right and follow the worn path towards another gate and then through a fenced passage between pony paddocks on either side. Pass through a gate at the end into a large open space. Turn left along the hedge and then take the little gate into the woodland. This is where the best display of bluebells and wood anemone can be found.
Continue straight until shortly reaching the fence of a back garden. Turn right here and follow the path. Shortly, you will spot a clearing where you see a view to Clanfield and the windmill on the hill. There are wild primroses here in spring. Keep going straight ahead and at some point along this path, children should look out for a diversion of a path going up hill to reveal the first two sculptures.
Return to the main path and continue until you come to a gate. Go out of the gate and then immediately re-enter the woodland through the other gate on your right. Here you will spot the third sculpture and then very soon the fourth.
Continue along this path until you reach the point where you entered the woodland, exiting back through the gate into the large green space again. Take the gate back into the pony paddock, but this time turn left along the hedge and then cross another pony paddock diagonally.
Go through the gate and pass through the car park of The Farmer Inn. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite going behind a house. The path passes narrowly between properties before opening to an orchard and a garden with a pond. Cross the orchard on the permissive footpath to the opposite side. Here you will meet a path. Turn right to find the bug hotel and another sculpture. Turn right to cross Parsonage Field and come back to the road.
There is one more sculpture inside the picnic area with picnic benches. Children may also enjoy a visit to the village pond opposite.
Did you know?
The carvings were created by the talented Michael Jones of ‘Man and His Dog Carvings’. He was commissioned by Horndean Parish Council to transform the stumps left behind after the necessary tree felling caused by ash die-back disease.
We are passionate about keeping The Ambling Path as a free resource available to everyone, forever. If you have enjoyed using our walking guides, then please consider leaving us a donation. This will help to cover our costs as well as rewarding the considerable time and effort needed to maintain the site. Thank you.
