Racton Monument
On this walk, children will enjoy telling spooky stories as they explore the ‘haunted’ ruins.
The Basics
Time: 1hr 20mins
Distance: 3.2 miles
Terrain: Woodland tracks, muddy in winter
Pushchair: An off road pushchair could possibly make it if you followed the route backwards and then returned the way you came from the monument.
Dogs: Yes, but on close control due to deer and other livestock
Refreshments: Pavilion Tea Rooms or wood fired pizza at Stansted House
Parking: Stansted Park overflow car park (Postcode: PO9 6DX - W3W - leader/spending/annotated)
Do you dare try this walk to the ‘most haunted’ location in West Sussex? Watch out for flying bricks, phantom tractors and apparitions appearing at windows! If you make it back in one piece, you will receive a far warmer welcome at the end of this walk from the tea-rooms and other attractions at Stansted Park.
The Route
Park in the overflow car park to the side of the main car park. From here, you will see a footpath leading into a copse of trees. Shortly, the path reaches a gate and crosses a field. Go through another gate at the other side of the field onto a track running parallel to another field.
The track soon links up to another gate where you should then turn left and walk along the path. You should now stay on this same path, in a straight line, for some time. Just before you reach the monument you will pass New Barn Cottage and the start of New Barn Lane, then very soon a reservoir on your left. The monument will appear on your right, hidden behind trees, at the rise of the hill. It is not safe to go inside the monument, but there are lots of openings where you can peep inside.
After the monument, retrace your steps and then take the first footpath on your right, after the turning to New Barn Cottage. Continue along here through the forest until you reach a cross road. Turn left here to follow a level path directly to Stanstead House (it is this section of the walk that may be possible in a pushchair).
The track will turn into a surfaced lane that curves around to the front of the house. Turn left when you see the footpath that runs in front of the house and follow this back to the car park.
Stansted house has a farm shop, tea room, miniature railway, garden centre and maze to enjoy.
We recommend viewing the map as a Trails Map:
Did you know?
Racton monument (or Racton Ruin) was built as a folly, probably to the nearby Stansted House. It is said the lower floor was used for banquets and it was originally four stories high, giving views to ships coming into The Solent. Now a ruin, the owner of the site has had repeated proposals to turn it into a private dwelling refused by the national park authority. The site has gained a reputation for paranormal activity that is said to include flying bricks, faces in windows and a ghost tractor that drives up behind you, then disappears.