- Date: 29th July 2026
- Walk Leader: Sandy Arpino
- Distance: 7 miles
Ramblers visit the awesome ancient yews at Kingley Vale
It was another hot Wednesday in July, so rambling numbers were depleted: nine walkers arrived at Oldwick Farm, at the now regular early start time of 9am, with suncream, sunhats and water bottles. We set off briskly along West Stoke Road, savouring the coolness of the morning. As ever, we found a distraction: why were those hay bales stacked so high and how were they lifted to such a height? Without answers, we continued on for half a mile to admire some llamas.
Inevitably we paused at West Stoke church, in search of unusual features – and we found the grave of, and a memorial to, Mary Archdale who sadly died in childbirth. Her memorial inside the church is heart-shaped – looking too modern and strangely out of place in its setting. Weirdly it directs you to her grave, stating very specifically that it lies “36 feet from the back of this tablet”.
On leaving the church we spied an unfamiliar tree; our phones informed us that it was a cork oak.
We passed the cutest little village hall and a phone box turned into a flower display, before turning off the road, into the official Kingley Vale car park. Spotting a coffee van, one of our members rushed to buy caffeine, while the rest of us waited in the shade, enjoying liquid from our water bottle.
The path to the nature reserve revealed all too clearly the stunningly blue sky and the parched fields. We need some rain!! Thankfully inside the reserve we could settle into shade for our coffee stop, beside a wonderful wood sculpture – and read some informative boards about the area and the yew trees. Interestingly, the age of the yews is unknown. They are over 500 years old but beyond that – with their centres hollowed out by fungi – more precise dating is impossible.
Refreshed, we set off to view the stars of the show: the ancient yews. And what a spectacle – huge, mysterious, other-worldly. The path wove us in and out of the majestic trees – their long, heavy branches dropping to the forest floor to re-root, creating a new generation of yews.
At the end of the ancient yews trail we came to the grandfather tree. In time-honoured-fashion, we measured the yew’s circumference: 8 ramblers! Then we found a lovely, unidentified fungus.
For a while the fun was over: time to climb up out of the landscaped bowl that contains the yew groves, exposed on 145 steps cut into the steep cliff face.
We were rewarded with superb views south to Chichester Harbour, Bosham and Chidham – with Chichester cathedral’s spire standing proud. Ripe sloe berries lined our path as we passed the Devil’s Humps – two tumuli that one of our members scaled (of course!). Then it was a long, shady, gradual descent back to where we’d started at the entrance to the nature reserve – and an early lunch break. Timing the start of our journey back was problematic; a tractor was throwing up huge dust clouds as it circled a field. Choosing our moment carefully, we dashed across the field edge while the tractor made its way downhill before turning back in our direction. We didn’t want a coating!
Along a fenced pathway with hedges either side providing shade, we made our way back to the cars – but no one was leaving without refreshments in Wellies Tearooms. And what a delight – they served amazing (inexpensive) ice cream. A perfect end to a varied, interesting – and hot – walk.
Author: Sandy Arpino
Photography: Sandy Arpino