About this walk

About halfway between Petworth and Midhurst on the A272 there's a pub called The Halfway Bridge. It's one of those places that feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, and that's exactly what this walk leans into.

We love this loop because it strings together so many different textures in a relatively short distance: shady lanes, open fields, a vineyard — always a nice surprise in Sussex — and then a peaceful stretch along the river Rother. It's our go-to when we want proper countryside and big views without the crowds.

There's plenty of easy parking in the lane behind the pub. Once you've laced up, you head away from The Halfway Bridge, over the river and up the lane. The area around Lodsworth has that slightly rolling, patchwork feel — a mix of fields, hedgerows and woodland pockets — and in places you get great views across to both the North and South Downs.

One of the unexpected highlights is the vineyard you pass through: neat rows of vines marching up the slope, a reminder that this corner of West Sussex is quietly becoming wine country.