Route
Start to Views Crossroads
From the car park, do NOT take the open woodland path alongside the noticeboard, instead go through the bridle gate (directly opposite the vehicle entrance) to join the bridleway (marked with a blue arrow and a Sussex Border Path waymarker). Follow this stone track leading you downhill, with a boundary fence running on your right.
This woodland, Durford Wood, is part of Durford Heath, a mixture of oak woodland, open heath and specimen trees. The woodland is atmospheric throughout the seasons. In the past it was part of Rogate Common, with woodland (used for foraging and firewood) in this northern part and heathland (used for grazing cattle and sheep) in the flatter southern area. By 1880, with grazing largely stopped, the heathland had reverted back to woodland.
At the bottom of the slope, as you come to a Durford Heath National Trust sign, turn left onto the smaller path (still marked as the bridleway and Sussex Border Path). Stay with this bridleway, first a narrow path winding through the trees and then becoming a wider sand and stone track which continues ahead through the woodland.
Eventually you will come to a path junction (at the point where another track merges in from behind). Simply keep ahead on the main woodland track. Further along, look out for a waymarker post on your right marking a fork. Take the right-hand branch, leaving the main forest track and joining a narrower woodland path leading you uphill (still the Sussex Border Path). Just over the brow of the rise, you will have the first glimpses of the views to your left which stretch across the valley and to the South Downs beyond.
At the end of this path (with more fine views ahead), you will come to a crossroads with a wider grass track. There is an old bench just to your right (within the holly, so be careful!) should you wish to pause and enjoy the views.
Marks
Waypoints
Views Crossroads to Slade Lane
Bear left to follow the grass track leading you steadily downhill, with a tree line running on your right. At the bottom of the first stretch you will come to another junction marked with a fingerpost. Turn left here, leaving the Byway to join a Public Footpath. This grass track leads you between fields, swinging steadily right, passing a beautiful row of rose bushes and the property called Carrols Cottage on your left. There are more great views to your right here.
Simply keep ahead on the grass track, now descending steadily. Pass under the power lines and go ahead through the (narrow!) gap in the hedgerow to reach a T-junction with a sunken bridleway within the trees. Turn right along this. There are some beautiful old coppiced hazel trees at this stretch and some impressively constructed badger setts.
Continue to the end of this bridleway, to reach a T-junction with a signed Public Way. Turn left and follow this path between hedgerows. At the end, you will emerge out onto a narrow tarmac lane, Slade Lane.
Rogate Village to Nuttings
Pass the bus stop and the village shop on your left, to reach the crossroads at the centre of the village (with the village church, St Bartholomew's, and the village pub just ahead). Turn left immediately before the pub, along the side road signed to Rake and Liss. NOTE: Take care along this short stretch as there are no pavements.
Follow the road between several pretty properties and passing the village hall on your right. Immediately alongside the last house on your right, Lower Lodge, fork right onto the signed public footpath. Follow this leading you through a kissing gate to reach the corner of a crop field. With your back to the kissing gate, follow the path through the crop field at about 1 o'clock.
At the far side of this large field, a stile leads you onto a narrow footpath between hedgerows. Stay with this path as it bears right, continuing between the hedgerows and then with a garden fence running on your left. You will come to a fingerpost marking a fork, take the left-hand branch, staying alongside the boundary fence. When the fence on your left ends, simply keep ahead on the woodland footpath (marked with a yellow arrow).
Further up, the path leads you past a fenced horse menage and outbuilding on your left, belonging to Rogate Lodge. Not far beyond this, you will come to a T-junction with a wider track, a bridleway, marked with a fingerpost. Turn right along this and, where the track swings away to the left, keep ahead on the narrower path (still signed as the bridleway). Towards the end of this path, you will pass a property on your right (Nuttings) before emerging out to the road.
Nuttings to End
Cross over the road and keep straight ahead to join the signed Public Bridleway between fences. The path leads you steeply downhill along a sunken track beneath a tall canopy of trees. At the bottom of the first section of slope you will reach a minor fork, bear right (signed with a blue arrow and Serpent Trail waymarker).
Continue steadily downhill between steep banks and, at the bottom of this second stretch, you will come to a crossroads with a wide track. Turn left here (the small purple Serpent Trail waymarker points this way) and follow this wide track which continues gently downhill, meandering through the woodland. This majestic woodland is a mixture of tall elegant beech trees mixed with some pine trees.
After about 500 metres, look for a waymarker post on your right (with the purple Serpent Trail waymarker). Turn left here, leaving the main track, to join a narrower path leading you uphill. At the top of the hill you will come to a junction with the road. Cross over and walk ahead up the steep bank (for 40 metres) then turn right along the wide forest track. (If this steep bank looks too much for you, turn left along the road for about 50 metres and then turn sharp right to join this same forest track).
NOTE: There are several mountain bike routes within this part of the woodland so look out for bikes crossing your path and keep children and dogs close. Simply keep ahead on this main forest track, with the slopes of Combe Hill up to your left. At the far end, pass alongside the vehicle barrier to reach the road.
NOTE: This next short stretch follows the edge of the road which can be fast-moving so take particular care of the traffic. Turn left along the road (taking particular care on the bend) and continue to the T-junction. Cross over and turn left along the road edge. Pass a row of cottages on your right and, immediately afterwards, turn right into the entrance for the Durford Wood car park where the walk began.