Wildhams Wood
Stoughton
Children will enjoy exploring the open access woodland on this walk.
Wild garlic under the beech trees
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Terrain: Woodland paths and forestry tracks, sometimes uneven. Mainly flat, with one steady descent. A very short section on a quiet country lane with grass verges.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: There are no refreshments on the route, but the Hare & Hounds in Stoughton is a two minute drive away. There is also a grassy patch beside the car park where you could lay a picnic rug.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location.
Parking: Stoughton Downs car park on the large bend along Wildham Lane a mile east of the village, free (Postcode: PO18 9JQ - W3W: ///irrigated.publisher.impact)
Bluebells mixed in with the wild garlic
Wildhams Wood is situated just east of the beautiful village of Stoughton in spectacular West Sussex countryside. Although the area is popular with cyclists and walkers, the woods have a wonderfully isolated atmosphere. In May the forest floor is thick with wild garlic and bluebells creating one of nature’s most breath-taking scenes.
The Route
Leave the car park along the wide gravelled path, heading away from the road with beech trees to your right and a field to your left. The field will end and be replaced by woodland on either side of the path. Bear left at the fork and then look out for the rusted metal skeleton of an old vehicle, and soon after, a huge tractor tyre.
Take the next left after the tyre and the path will gently climb into the woodland.
Turn right at the top when you come to a cross path. Initially, the path has woodland either side. It will then narrow; the woodland will still be to your left and a field/hedge to your right. The field on your right will end and you will once again be surrounded by trees. Soon after this, look out for a huge yew tree with a large trunk. It is quite distinctive as there are no other yew trees around.
Turn left after the yew tree onto a forestry track. Stay on this track for around a kilometre and a half. It will begin to curve around to the left and will then follow the top edge of the woodland. Ignore any paths to the left or the right and eventually the surface of the path will change as it approaches the road at a barrier.
Turn left at the cross path just before the road. Follow this track with woodland to your left and the road just about visible through trees to your right. This path will end when it reaches a field.
Turn right towards the road, and then turn left when you reach the road. Walk long the side of this quiet country lane with enough verge for children to be off the road. Continue for 200 metres until you reach the car park.
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Did you know?
If you fancy making your walk longer then just across the lane is Inholmes Wood, which is also open access and also contains wild garlic.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Idsworth where you can hunt for more garlic in the woods
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