Sussex Exclusive Magazine. Issue 4 2023

Halnaker Windmill Trail
Just east of Chichester is the small hamlet of
Halnaker (pronounced Ha’naker). Here you’ll
find the Halnaker Windmill Trail – a 5 km walk
that takes in various points of interest. As you
come into the hamlet travelling west along the
A285, there’s a layby to your right. There’s also an
information board there but if the layby is full,
park in the village hall car park in Boxgrove, just
a little further down the road (after 1 km, turn
left after the Anglesey Arms) and then walk back.
Back at the layby, you’re on a section of Stane
Street, the old Roman road that runs from
Chichester to London. Leaving the A285 behind,
walk into Mill Lane and follow the path for just
over 1 km. It takes you through a famous tunnel
of trees which makes for great photographs and as
you break from the trees, you start the climb up
Halnaker Hill.
Balcombe Viaduct
3 Sussex walks and
dog friendly eateries
Grab the lead and your furry friend and head out into the
stunning Sussex countryside for a hearty walk followed by
Sussex refreshments
There has
been a
windmill
here since at
least 1540 as
part of the
Goodwood
Estate.
Halnaker Hill and Windmill
The top of Halnaker Hill is a Scheduled Ancient
Monument and it is the site of a Neolithic
earthwork structure. You’ll also see a little
building to the side which is a WW II “radio
direction-finding” structure and of course, you’ll
see the windmill. There has been a windmill
here since at least 1540 as part of the Goodwood
Estate.
It’s thought that the current structure was built
in the 1740s and it was still operating until 1905
when it was badly damaged by lightning. It was
restored in 1934 and again in 2004. It’s owned
by West Sussex County Council and is Grade II
Listed building.
The views from the top of Halnaker Hill are
worth the climb, and on a clear day, you can
see the Selsey Peninsula, the Isle of Wight,
Goodwood, West Dean and Upwaltham from
your 360 degree vantage point. Visit at sunrise
and it’s magical.
Boxgrove Man and Priory
As you retrace your steps down the hill, you’ll see
mention of Boxgrove Man on the information
board. This relates to human remains found at
Boxgrove and dated to about 480,000 years ago.
The remains include a piece of tibia and two
teeth. They were found in the 1990s.
From the layby cross the road and follow the
path across the field and round the edge of
the Tinwood Estate (more of that later). In
the distance you’ll see the impressive figure of
Boxgrove Priory. Owned by English Heritage,
these are the ruins of a Benedictine priory
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