West Stoke Shorty

West Stoke Shorty

West Stoke Shorty. This is just a short walk for those who are not ready or don’t have time for a longer walk. There are still views to be had and there is the benefit of a lovely bluebell display in the woods.

Driving directions Leave the Fox and Hounds Pub and drive towards Chichester. After a straight stretch of road you will see a sign to National Nature Reserve on your left. Turn left here and as the road turns sharp right take a left into a small car park.

On leaving your car go back down the road that you just arrived on and turn right at the finger post leading into the forest. This forest is very very attractive in Bluebell Season.(late April early May)

Follow this path past the first forest track that you meet and turn right. Follow this track to the road and turn right. Be Extremely careful on this road because there is no foot path but in this case the road has very little traffic.

Walk on to the junction and turn right then left and over the hill.

This will lead you to a gate on your left (this is the entrance to Kingley Vale) and if you would care to go through it there is a hut with displays of local natural history. As you go back through the gate join the path coming up from opposite and walk back to the car park.

If you still have some energy Kingley vale is well worth a visit. This was the first National Nature reserve in the UK. There are yew trees here that began there growth some 2000 tears ago and are the oldest living things in England. One tree is is 5 meters wide and is part of the largest yew forest in the world.