Bignor Hill, Stane Street and Gumber

The walk starts from the National Trust car park on Bignor Hill, at the end of the lane from Bignor village. It heads south-west past the big signpost onto Stane Street, the Roman road from Chichester to London, whose raised bank still runs straight across the downs here. The bridleway follows the bank for about 2.5 km, gently downhill, to the six-way signpost at the edge of Eartham Wood. The way back takes Leper's Path, the left fork nearest the Roman road, through the conifers and across the fields by Gumber Farm, where the lynchets of Iron Age fields show in the grass. It rejoins Stane Street for the last 1.2 km up to the car park.

It is 5.9 km with 114 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: the going is gentle, with the climb on the way back.

Sheep graze on and beside Stane Street for much of the year, so expect to keep dogs on leads. There are stiles, tree roots near the wood, and mud in winter. The signposts at the six-way junction are confusing: take the fork nearest the Roman road.

The car park is free. The lane up to it is narrow, steep and rough, and there are no toilets. There is no station near; the nearest is Amberley, about 5 km away.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.