- Walk Leader: Val Wood
- Date: 27th May 2026
- Distance: 6 miles approx.
Bignor Hill and Stane Street Circular
Someone should have told the weather gods that this is May – usually a benign month when Spring really does get into its stride and the fresh green countryside and wild flowers are glowing, and the temperatures are pleasantly warm with a promise of summer around the corner. Not this year though. After a few days of sweltering in an official heatwave (or canicule, as the French call it, a much more interesting word), Wednesday’s temps were forecast to be a little less hot. So having debated with myself over the wisdom of cancelling, I eventually decided to continue, but start an hour earlier and reduce the length from 9 miles to about 6.
Six of us met at the NT Bignor Hill CP ready to leave promptly at 9am. Well, five of us did, Chris arrived a little late but could see us on the very visible track east over the South Downs and soon caught up. With fantastic views all around, it was a magic start to the day. As we turned north slightly up hill to start before heading down, we were in and out of shade for a while until reaching Bignor village where some mostly shaded country lane walking took us past The Holy Cross parish church with its impressive mass of ox-eye daisies in full bloom amongst the front gravestones. We were glad of its cool interior to take refreshment.
Round a bend down another lane, we picked up an intriguing footpath alongside a pretty house heading west along and over a stream to climb through a bit of woodland, on through meadows and fields to the outskirts of Sutton village.
We continued along boundaries of pretty gardens many in full mid-summer bloom. Weaving this way and that, with more splendid views of the Downs ahead we eventually arrived at Glatting Farm, very close to where we entered the woodland and a long hard climb back up to the Downs. This is where I made an unfortunate error in our path. Having changed the route on my second recce to avoid a particularly difficult rough and root strewn ascent, I manage to take the stoic group up the very one I’d planned to avoid. As we climbed gingerly, I was extremely grateful to Chris and Peter for giving me a helpful push and pull, as my tired legs were on the point of giving up!
All of us extremely glad to reach the top, we stopped in the shade for some welcome lunch and a rest before turning left and south-eastward to the junction close to the radio masts. This is where we would have turned right along the edge and then south through cool woodland before turning south along Stane Street Roman Road. In more comfortable conditions this is the perfect last three or so miles with which to complete the full 9 mile route. That we’ll have to save for another day. Instead, we took the path straight ahead to rejoin our cars.
Many thanks to the jolly band who accompanied me, and I feel we coped very well with the conditions. With particular thanks to Claire and Sandy for taking the photos. Am I glad I did the walk in the heat? Well, yes and no – you’d be hard pressed to better the views and variety of countryside in such lovely sunshine. But no doubt those of you who decided it was too darned hot were probably the wisest!
Author: Val Wood
Photography: Sandy Arpino and Clare McCullough