Midhurst and the River Rother Walk
West Sussex
This dog friendly West Sussex walk leaves the cobbled lanes of Midhurst's old town, drops onto the River Rother and follows the slow-moving water out through the National Trust's Woolbeding Countryside, where the path runs alongside ancient willows, a plantation of whispering poplars and the murmur of a small weir. The route loops back through riverside meadows past the ruins of Cowdray with views of the South Downs.
Dogs are welcome under close control throughout, with off-lead time possible on the wider Rother riverside sections when no livestock is in sight, and lead-up wherever sheep or cattle are grazing on the parkland fields. The path is mostly flat, well drained and a relaxed two hours, ideal for older dogs or a gentle morning. Parking is at Midhurst's main town car parks, and the Wheatsheaf and the Half Moon both welcome dogs for a stop at the end.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 2 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- River, Park, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafes, dog friendly pubs and shops in Midhurst (the Wheatsheaf and Half Moon are local favourites); no facilities along the river itself.
- Parking
- Town Centre North car park (GU29 9DZ) and the Post Office car park off Grange Road (GU29 9LT) in Midhurst, both pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Midhurst and the River Rother Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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