West Sussex Literary Trail
Opened in Horsham in April 2007, this linear 55 mile route links
Horsham, in the north-east corner of West Sussex, with the
cathedral city of Chichester.
Start
Percy Bysshe Shelley's Millennium Fountain in Horsham (Grid
reference: TQ 178309). The fountain was created by Angela Conner
who was inspired by Shelley's poem 'Mont Blanc'.
Finish
The Cathedral city of Chichester (Grid reference: SU 859048),
with its strong ties with William Blake and John Keats.
For use by
Walkers.
Nearest towns
The walk takes you through some of the most interesting towns
and historic villages in West Sussex. Of particular interest
are:
- Bury Village: which nestles at the foot of the South Downs.
Bury House was the home of novelist and playwright John Galsworthy
for the final 7 years of his life (1867 - 1933).
- Horsham: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822) was born at Field
Place, near Horsham.
- Chichester: The poet John Keats (1795 - 1821) visited
Chichester, where he began to write one of his best known poems,
The Eve of St. Agnes, early in 1819.
Terrain
The route runs southwest from Horsham across West Sussex
following footpaths and tracks, crossing the South Downs to reach
Chichester.
The Sussex Downs are wooded with a defined ridge along which the
South Downs Way runs.
Average time to complete
People who are reasonably fit can do 12-15 miles (20 km) per
day. At this pace this route can be completed in five or six
days.
Highlights
West Sussex has inspired generations of artists poets and
writers. A guide book brings the walk alive with stories of the
many and varied literary connections along its route. Poets like
William Blake and Shelley delighted in the rural landscape.
Tennyson built his beloved Aldsworth House high on Blackdown in the
north with stunning views across The Weald, and Keats, inspired by
by the medieval air of the cathedral city of Chichester began to
write 'The Eve of St Agnes'. HG Wells spent vacations with his
mother, the housekeeper at Uppark House near South Harting and
Oscar Wilde wrote 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in
Worthing.
Transport
West Sussex is well served by public transport.
Maps
Ordnance Survey Maps: OS Landranger: 197, 198. OS Explorer :
120, 122, 134. OS Explorer Active: 120, 122, 134 and don't forget
to visit
the iMap.
More information
Book
The full colour trail guide book, written by Keith McKenna and
Peter Anderson gives information about a wealth of literary
characters and things you'll see along the way. It contains maps,
route directions and lots of photographs.
Websites
Other useful information
The route connects with The Downs
Link, The South Downs Way, The Monarch's Way and the New Lipchis Way.
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