Petworth Park
On this walk, children will enjoy the hundreds of deer roaming the park as well as the geese and swans on the lake.
Springtime on the lake
The Basics
Time: 1 hour
Distance: 5km
Terrain: Grassland paths, mostly flat but with some steady inclines
Pushchair: If the ground is firm
Dogs: Yes, but on leads around deer
Refreshments: Lots of space for picnics or there is a café if visiting the house
Toilets: None, unless visiting the house
Public Transport: No.1 Stagecoach service between Worthing and Midhurst (passes Pulborough train station), No. 99 Compass service from Chichester to Petworth. Alight in Petworth town centre and then walk up the shallow hill along Lombard Street away from the Co-op and Leconfield Hall towards St Mary's Church. To access Deer Park only - Facing St. Mary's Church, follow the road to the right, round the side of the church. Enter through gates on the left side of the road into The Cowyard. Walk to the bottom of Cowyard and enter the Cow Tunnel and into the Park.
Parking: National Trust Deer Park car park (not the Petworth House car park) for £3 all day, members free, 8am -8pm in summer (Postcode: GU28 9LS - W3W - over/jumped/education)
The park is full of free-roaming deer
Petworth Park is a truly splendid 700-acre park with a landscape designed by Capability Brown. Bring a picnic and explore the multiple pathways, lake, ancient trees and herds of fallow deer. The deer park is free to explore but if you want to enter the National Trust managed Petworth House, you will need to be members or buy tickets.
The Route
This is a walk where it is so easy to find your way about the deer park that you may not need any detailed descriptions. But to give you an idea, here is the walk we did:
From the car park we took the path with the wall and line of trees to our left. This took us straight to the lower pond.
When we hit the pond, we turned right and followed the water’s edge to our left. At the furthest edge of the pond, we veered slightly leftt and followed the most main looking, central path that continues away from the car park and across the deer park. Far ahead of us we saw a prominent clump of trees sitting at the top of a hilly mound.
We kept on this path as it began to gradually climb Arbour Hill with the clump of trees on the hilly mound to our right. From the top, the lake, and then the house, came into view. The top of this hill, under the shade of the trees, makes an excellent place for a picnic.
After our picnic, we made our way down to the lake and then headed clockwise around it, keeping the water always to our right. On the other side of the lake is a grassy path which gives perfect views across the lake and to the house beyond. We followed the water until the house was behind us, passing the boat house until the water gave way to undergrowth behind green railings.
At the end of the railings, we saw the hill with the clump of trees sitting on top once again and this time headed to the left of these and then followed the grassy paths back in the direction of the car park. It is along this section of the park that we usually see the most deer.
Also on this side of the park is monument hill, where you can see a folly with a little turret. If you have the time and energy, it is a rewarding climb to what are the best views in the area.
This map of Petworth Park may be useful.
The house and ornamental gardens are well worth a visit, but you will need to be a member or pay an admission fee for this. The house closes at 5pm, so walking in the deer park after this time in the summer is a really peaceful time to go.
Did you know?
Petworth Park is one of the finest and best preserved landscapes by Capability Brown. It has been home to herds of fallow deer for over 500 years; they were reportedly hunted by Henry VIII on his visit to Petworth in the 1520s. Today you can spot between 700 and 800 deer across the park.
