A few ideas for getting out and about
Great local walks
Whether you're a keen hiker or just like to stroll in the countryside, there are walks for you from the Cabin - many without the need to cross a single road.
Opposite the cabin is Levin Down, a nature reserve and 'Site of Special Scientific Interest', due to its diverse flora and fauna.
There are two ways to approach Levin Down: a short walk is to head 100m along Charlton Road towards Singleton then take the kissing gate in the hedge to your right. It's a steadily steepening walk across the field, then through two gates close together, after which you find yourself at the edge of the nature reserve. Bear left and continue uphill for great views back across the village and the valley towards Goodwood Racecourse.
If you keep going, you come to another field on the west side of the Down, at which point you can either head down into Singleton or continue uphill to your right, up to the highest point on the Down, with views as far as the Isle of Wight.
If you want a longer walk, turn right out of the cabin and head up North Lane, which very quickly becomes an unmade track. Up past the sheep barns on the right and beyond, the track bends left towards Levin Down. From here you have two options: head through the kissing gate on the left at the bottom of the slope, or follow the track as it bends right again and heads uphill.
If you go through the gate, a nice walk is to keep close to the fence on the left and follow this path until you reach the top of the field that overlooks Charlton. Then back across the field and through the gate onto Charlton Lane - turn left on the lane and back into the village.
If you're up for it, stay on the track as it bends round to the right. This takes you up to a gate at the north end of the field that sits on the very top of Levin Down. Go through the gate and turn left, following the tyre-tracks in the grass up to the highest point.
From the very top of Levin Down, on a clear day you can see across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Proceed through the gate at the top, following the tyre tracks until the spire of Singleton Church comes into view in the valley below.
When you see the church, walk directly towards this until you see a gate to your left - turn left and through the gate, into the nature reserve. Follow the path, which takes you along the side of Levin Down, gradually dropping down into the valley, through more gates until you reach the top of the field that overlooks Charlton. Then return to the village as outlined above.
Levin Down
Opposite the cabin is Levin Down, a nature reserve and 'Site of Special Scientific Interest', due to its diverse flora and fauna.
There are two ways to approach Levin Down: a short walk is to head 100m along Charlton Road towards Singleton then take the kissing gate in the hedge to your right. It's a steadily steepening walk across the field, then through two gates close together, after which you find yourself at the edge of the nature reserve. Bear left and continue uphill for great views back across the village and the valley towards Goodwood Racecourse.
If you keep going, you come to another field on the west side of the Down, at which point you can either head down into Singleton or continue uphill to your right, up to the highest point on the Down, with views as far as the Isle of Wight.
If you want a longer walk, turn right out of the cabin and head up North Lane, which very quickly becomes an unmade track. Up past the sheep barns on the right and beyond, the track bends left towards Levin Down. From here you have two options: head through the kissing gate on the left at the bottom of the slope, or follow the track as it bends right again and heads uphill.
If you go through the gate, a nice walk is to keep close to the fence on the left and follow this path until you reach the top of the field that overlooks Charlton. Then back across the field and through the gate onto Charlton Lane - turn left on the lane and back into the village.
If you're up for it, stay on the track as it bends round to the right. This takes you up to a gate at the north end of the field that sits on the very top of Levin Down. Go through the gate and turn left, following the tyre-tracks in the grass up to the highest point.
From the very top of Levin Down, on a clear day you can see across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Proceed through the gate at the top, following the tyre tracks until the spire of Singleton Church comes into view in the valley below.
When you see the church, walk directly towards this until you see a gate to your left - turn left and through the gate, into the nature reserve. Follow the path, which takes you along the side of Levin Down, gradually dropping down into the valley, through more gates until you reach the top of the field that overlooks Charlton. Then return to the village as outlined above.
The village is itself worth a stroll around on a sunny morning or balmy evening, perhaps before ducking into the Fox Goes Free for a drink in their beautiful pub-garden.
A nice stroll is to cross Charlton Road into Knight's Hill, then take the first left and explore the tiny lanes within the centre of the village, before continuing in an anticlockwise direction to find yourself back on Charlton Road opposite the Fox Goes Free. From there, we're the same side of the road, a hundred yards or so in an easterly direction.
Charlton
The village is itself worth a stroll around on a sunny morning or balmy evening, perhaps before ducking into the Fox Goes Free for a drink in their beautiful pub-garden.
A nice stroll is to cross Charlton Road into Knight's Hill, then take the first left and explore the tiny lanes within the centre of the village, before continuing in an anticlockwise direction to find yourself back on Charlton Road opposite the Fox Goes Free. From there, we're the same side of the road, a hundred yards or so in an easterly direction.
Turn right coming out of the Cabin and you're heading up North Lane, which very quickly becomes an unmade track. Up past the sheep barns on the right and then to a parting of the ways, you can take the steep footpath up to your right, which takes you up and round to East Dean, or you can keep to the 'main' track, which heads north.
After another couple of hundred metres the track bends left towards Levin Down or you can keep straight on towards the South Downs Way. Ahead of you in Charlton Forest, with miles of forest paths - so take a map if you are going this way.
Charlton Forest
Turn right coming out of the Cabin and you're heading up North Lane, which very quickly becomes an unmade track. Up past the sheep barns on the right and then to a parting of the ways, you can take the steep footpath up to your right, which takes you up and round to East Dean, or you can keep to the 'main' track, which heads north.
After another couple of hundred metres the track bends left towards Levin Down or you can keep straight on towards the South Downs Way. Ahead of you in Charlton Forest, with miles of forest paths - so take a map if you are going this way.
There's a great walk up to the racecourse from the south-east corner of Charlton. It's a chalky track, steepish in places, so not to be attempted in race-going finery!
From the cabin, cross Charlton Road and into Knight's Hill. A few hundred yards brings you to an open green area on the left - cross this to the far right hand corner (crossing the small residential access of Charlton Mill Way and another access to some commercial units to the left). Take the footpath alongside the woodmill to your right, which brings you out onto a lane running north/south, rising to your right.
Turn right and head up hill, pausing to enjoy views of the valley to your left as you pass clearings. Towards the top you see the racecourse on your right, with views to the Trundle hill and back down the valley on that side.
At the road turn right and follow the edge of the racecourse; you can in places duck into the woodland on the other side of the road and then into the grassy car park of the racecourse.
If you want to carry on round, cut through the parking
on the right hand side of the road, which brings you out at the foot of the Trundle. Follow the footpath up to the top for a great view out across the coast and to the Isle of Wight.
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I-Goodwood Racecourse
Selhurstpark RoadThere's a great walk up to the racecourse from the south-east corner of Charlton. It's a chalky track, steepish in places, so not to be attempted in race-going finery!
From the cabin, cross Charlton Road and into Knight's Hill. A few hundred yards brings you to an open green area on the left - cross this to the far right hand corner (crossing the small residential access of Charlton Mill Way and another access to some commercial units to the left). Take the footpath alongside the woodmill to your right, which brings you out onto a lane running north/south, rising to your right.
Turn right and head up hill, pausing to enjoy views of the valley to your left as you pass clearings. Towards the top you see the racecourse on your right, with views to the Trundle hill and back down the valley on that side.
At the road turn right and follow the edge of the racecourse; you can in places duck into the woodland on the other side of the road and then into the grassy car park of the racecourse.
If you want to carry on round, cut through the parking
on the right hand side of the road, which brings you out at the foot of the Trundle. Follow the footpath up to the top for a great view out across the coast and to the Isle of Wight.
Local visits
An easy walk from the cabin, the museum at Singleton is definitely worth a visit. Set up in the 1970s to rescue old buildings threatened by new developments, the museum is a collection of buildings that have been lovingly dismantled and rebuilt in the West Sussex countryside.
But this is no stuffy museum - volunteers breath new life into the buildings, sometimes baking bread in the old bakery, sometimes forging horseshoes in the blacksmith's forge.
And the layout resembles that of an old village, with the old Town Hall from nearby Titchfield, with its single council room above an open market hall, taking pride of place in the square.
But if you don't want to pay to go in, you can sit and enjoy refreshments or lunch at the stylish modern cafe and enjoy viewing the scene from across the duck pond.
A direct walk is along Charlton Road into Singleton, keeping left on entering the village (to stay on what was the old Charlton Road), past The Partridge on your right and out to the A286. Keep well in as you walk the dozen or so yards needed along this pavement, before the path takes you behind trees and along to the bottom of Town Lane (from where the museum is signposted). Take care crossing over to the museum entrance, as the traffic comes round the corner a bit fast.
If the weather (and the field...) is dry, a nice walk from the cabin is across Charlton Road into Knights Hill, over the little bridge (the Lavant - which only flows in winter) and take the stile to your right. Head along the south side of this field to the far end and through the gate at the back of the houses. (Note that this is where is gets very muddy when the weather is wet.)
Pass through the alleyway and keep going straight ahead, down the cul-de-sac and follow the pavement through an archway between the retirement homes. Pass the little recreation ground on your left, then the lovely church, to come out almost opposite The Partridge public house in Singelton. Turn left and pick up from above.
If the ground is soft, another option to get there from the cabin is to head 100m along Charlton Road towards Singleton, before going through the kissing gate to your right, then left along the inside of the field. Go through the large gate at the far (western) side (making sure you secure this as you found it), then continue towards the far left corner and down past the primary school. Ponder at the wonderful cedar tree in the tiny cemetery as you pass.
This brings you back out onto Charlton Road, so pick up from entering the village above.
195 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Weald & Downland Living Museum
Town LaneAn easy walk from the cabin, the museum at Singleton is definitely worth a visit. Set up in the 1970s to rescue old buildings threatened by new developments, the museum is a collection of buildings that have been lovingly dismantled and rebuilt in the West Sussex countryside.
But this is no stuffy museum - volunteers breath new life into the buildings, sometimes baking bread in the old bakery, sometimes forging horseshoes in the blacksmith's forge.
And the layout resembles that of an old village, with the old Town Hall from nearby Titchfield, with its single council room above an open market hall, taking pride of place in the square.
But if you don't want to pay to go in, you can sit and enjoy refreshments or lunch at the stylish modern cafe and enjoy viewing the scene from across the duck pond.
A direct walk is along Charlton Road into Singleton, keeping left on entering the village (to stay on what was the old Charlton Road), past The Partridge on your right and out to the A286. Keep well in as you walk the dozen or so yards needed along this pavement, before the path takes you behind trees and along to the bottom of Town Lane (from where the museum is signposted). Take care crossing over to the museum entrance, as the traffic comes round the corner a bit fast.
If the weather (and the field...) is dry, a nice walk from the cabin is across Charlton Road into Knights Hill, over the little bridge (the Lavant - which only flows in winter) and take the stile to your right. Head along the south side of this field to the far end and through the gate at the back of the houses. (Note that this is where is gets very muddy when the weather is wet.)
Pass through the alleyway and keep going straight ahead, down the cul-de-sac and follow the pavement through an archway between the retirement homes. Pass the little recreation ground on your left, then the lovely church, to come out almost opposite The Partridge public house in Singelton. Turn left and pick up from above.
If the ground is soft, another option to get there from the cabin is to head 100m along Charlton Road towards Singleton, before going through the kissing gate to your right, then left along the inside of the field. Go through the large gate at the far (western) side (making sure you secure this as you found it), then continue towards the far left corner and down past the primary school. Ponder at the wonderful cedar tree in the tiny cemetery as you pass.
This brings you back out onto Charlton Road, so pick up from entering the village above.
Chichester is one of the nation's ancient cities, with the beautiful cathedral and the old cross in the centre (now within the pedestrianised area that extends to most of North St and East St).
Don't miss the cathedral gardens, on the south side - a great place to enjoy a stroll. Then explore the pallants and back lanes of the old city.
Access to and from Chichester is quick and easy by car or bike. There’s a bus from Singleton into Chichester (No. 60) - a level walk of about a mile from us to the stop.
Or if you’re keen, you can walk over the hill and down into town - about 6 miles, passing a very nice pub about halfway in East Lavant. Minor roads / tracks all the way, a nice morning walk is to do this, with coffee in East Lavant, and get the No 60 bus back, from outside the cathedral.
363 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chichester
Chichester is one of the nation's ancient cities, with the beautiful cathedral and the old cross in the centre (now within the pedestrianised area that extends to most of North St and East St).
Don't miss the cathedral gardens, on the south side - a great place to enjoy a stroll. Then explore the pallants and back lanes of the old city.
Access to and from Chichester is quick and easy by car or bike. There’s a bus from Singleton into Chichester (No. 60) - a level walk of about a mile from us to the stop.
Or if you’re keen, you can walk over the hill and down into town - about 6 miles, passing a very nice pub about halfway in East Lavant. Minor roads / tracks all the way, a nice morning walk is to do this, with coffee in East Lavant, and get the No 60 bus back, from outside the cathedral.
If you just want somewhere great to call in for a coffee, lunch or afternoon tea, you can visit the cafe without paying to get into the gardens - and sit and enjoy the view from the terrace across the corner of the gardens to the distant countryside.
And if you love to wander round formal and informal gardens, with beautiful kitchen gardens and glass houses, it's worth paying the entrance fee to step out into that landscape.
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Izityalo ze-West Dean
If you just want somewhere great to call in for a coffee, lunch or afternoon tea, you can visit the cafe without paying to get into the gardens - and sit and enjoy the view from the terrace across the corner of the gardens to the distant countryside.
And if you love to wander round formal and informal gardens, with beautiful kitchen gardens and glass houses, it's worth paying the entrance fee to step out into that landscape.