The Fernhurst Mountain Bike Route is 400 yards from the Duke of Cumberland Pub
and about the same from the Red Lion on Fernhurst Green

Start Point

START POINT: Either from the Red Lion on Fernhurst Green 200 yards east of the Fernhurst crossroads or from the Free Public Car Park behind the Blackdown Press which is at the junction of the crossroad and the A287. Alternatively, park at The Duke of Cumberland Pub in Henley. This route for mountain bikes is mainly on the level, has long gentle inclines, and is family friendly.

From Fernhurst Green travel south down the lane to the T junction.Turn left and cross the stream heading east - Sewards on the map. Alternatively, start at the Duke of Cumberland and travel down the right-of-way into Verdley Wood just below Old Smugglers and join the cycle route after about 400 yards. Turn right onto the track towards Bexley Hill and do the route anti-clockwise.

From the Fernhurst Green direction continue for about 2 miles to Upperfold Farm which is on a sharp right hand bend.

Continue straight ahead up a green lane until you reach the main north-south Lickfold to Haslemere Road at Dial Green having passed through Great Brockhurst Farm. Turn left on the lane and cycle up a gentle incline for less than a mile past the Lurgashall Winery on the left - well worth a visit for a tipple - until you reach the Sybs Farm track coming in from the east.Turn right where it is sign-posted Courts Yard - you are now on a metalled track passing through woodland which veers in a southward direction until you reach the Lurgashall road.

Here turn left and cycle to the Green, at which point turn right down the side of the Green past The Old School House to a road junction.You may see cricket in progress on the Green in the summer and if you are thirsty the Noah's Ark pub is on the east side.

Take the un-signposted lane to the south, not the Midhurst Road. After a mile on a sharp left hand bend turn west ie right, up the private lane to the Mill Pond part of Mill Farm. You are now passing through glorious countryside, the Mill Pond to you right and with panoramic views to Blackdown. Ahead and a little to the right you can see the mast on Bexley Hill, an invaluable way-mark. You will be passing close to the mast a little later on. Pass through the gate after the farm in a westerly direction up a track

Continue for two miles until you hit the Lodsworth-Lickfold road and turn left to Lodsworth. After a mile or so you come to the outskirts of the village in a dip where the lane splits near a pretty cottage on the right hand side. Take the right hand fork for two hundred yards - there is a wooded hill on the right hand side - and keep a look out for a dirt track bending sharply right up an incline to the north.

There are trees on both sides here and you follow the track to Vining Farm. At Vining you are out in the open again on a gently rising ridge of land with views to the west towards Midhurst and uphill to the Mast on Bexley Hill. Continue up the incline to Grevatts bearing right keeping the mast in view. This is a f******* to save you the longer route westwards to Easebourne Lane. Having passed the mast you drop down a steep slope to the lane at Bexley Hill.

Opposite is a large open gate, the entrance to Verdley Wood on the Cowdray Estate.The track here is metalled and there is a good fast ride downhill all the way to Henley Lane, woods on either side, and fantastic views towards Verdley Place and behind this to Marley Heights and Blackdown. The Duke of Cumberland Pub in Henley Village is a few hundred yards uphill to the left at the junction of the Verdley Wood track and the lane , formerly the toll road to Chichester until 1825. This pub has the most beautiful water garden and is situated on the side of the hill with its own rushet. An ideal spot for a leisurely meal or drink, and very popular with walkers and cyclists alike.

Continue down Henley Lane past the entrance to Syngenta - now empty - until you come to the A287.Turn right past the King's Arms pub - another excellent watering-hole with marvellous grub - and follow the road to the S bend in the hollow with the Sewage Works as a land mark in front of you. Turn right and after several bends you see the Bowling Green to the right and almost immediately hit the T junction where you started this journey. Turn left and make your way up a gentle incline to Fernhurst Green and your starting point

 

' The Fernhurst Mountain Bike Route " is sponsored by Violet Designs, Midhurst, West Sussex Tel: 01730 810059. We just try harder to give exceptional service and prices.

.