Stoughton
Like its neighbour Walderton, the village is strung out along a floor of a valley which is totally dominated by the mass of Walderton Down and Stoughton Down to the south - both hills form part of the outstanding Kingley Vale Nature Reserve.
Stoughton is one of the best places from which to explore Kingley Vale and there's a useful car park at the botton of Lambdown Hill.
As an alternative, try walking up the long climb from the village itself. The views back from Stoughton Down are wonderful and there are regular incentives to stop for a rest and admire the vista as it unfolds behind you.
There's a bench near the footpath at the top of the path up the hill from the village where the views are so enjoyable it's hard sometimes to find the will to stand up and carry on walking.
This path forms part of the Monarch's Way.
Wildhams Wood and Inholmes Wood, to the north of Stoughton, are two of the nicest patches of woodland in West Sussex. They have a real sense of wildness and isolation. A walk through them towards the villages of East Marden and Chilgrove can be rewarding for people who are knowledgable about woodland plants and fun for the rest of us.
Stoughton Church
A large church tucked away down a narrow lane leading up a small hill. The proportions of St Mary's Stoughton don't seem quite right and there's an awkward mixture of plain and patterned surfaces on the exterior of the church.This belies the fact that St Mary's has some important and interesting features, most of them Saxon in style and most of them inside the church. These include fine herringbone brickwork and a a magnificent chancel arch.
- North Marden
- Up Marden
- Compton
- Chilgrove
- Rogate
- Funtington
- South Harting
- Harting Hill
- Torberry Hill
- The Devil's Jumps
- Didling
- Racton Ruin
- Woodend
- West Stoke
Tuesday February 07