Liphook to Chichester
We used an Air B&B in Chichester as a base to walk "The Lipchis Way". The 40 mile walk goes from Liphook through Chichester and on to West Wittering. We finished our walk near West Itchenor (55km total)
We arrived at the B&B in the early evening after work on Thursday. Self catering suits us for this kind of break; we simply can not eat out four days in a row, and we can make sandwiches to carry on the day's walk.
Friday 4 April (Good Friday)
19km
We walked from the B&B to Chichester station and caught the 08:30 train to Liphook. We were walking away from Liphook station by 09:40. The weather was damp, but it was not too cold.
We made a few navigation mistakes (nothing too serious). The walk manages to use a surprisingly low number of roads. We arrived in Midhurst about 14:45.
I think it was about 13 mile walk in all. Our deviations meant I am not too sure!
We sat in the Wheatsheaf PH for a while before visiting Tesco on the main road through town for tonight's tea.
We caught the Number 60 bus from Midhurst to Chichester. The journey took about 45 minutes, and cost £3. The bus stop in Chichester is right by The Bell PH, so another drink was needed!
Saturday 5 April
11km
We took the number 60 bus back to Midhurst. The bus runs every 30 minutes (every hour yesterday). We were in Midhurst by 09:30 and walked from the bus depot towards the Cowdray House before turning south to find the main path.
Navigation was a bit complicated today. The Lipchis Way shares the route with a few other long distance paths: Serpent Way, Sussex Literary Path, South Downs Way and more. The Lipchis Way was not always marked as clearly as it could be. We had to be careful to check we were on the right path.
The weather was damp (not quite raining) and there was a fair bit if wind.
The climb up the South Downs was quite steep, which definitely slowed us a bit. After the Downs it was a more gentle up and down as we walked into Singleton.
We arrived at The Partridge PH about 13:15pm. Today was a much shorter walk than yesterday (about 8 miles). We sat there for a drink before getting the No 60 bus back to Chichester. Today's bus ride was only 20 minutes.
Once back in Chichester, we changed out footwear and walked into town for food from M&S. While we there, we bought enough food for tomorrow as well, we are not expecting many shops to be open on Easter Sunday.
Sunday 6 April (Easter Sunday)
10km
The number 60 bus runs every hour today. We arrived in Singleton at 09:00. From there, we walked up to "The Trundle", an Iron Age fort on top of St Roche's Hill. The view from the top was spectacular. We could see Goodwood race-course, Chichester cathedral, Portsmouth Spinnaker and much more.
The weather was cold and windy. We were pleased to have our hats, gloves and coats!
From the hill, we walked eastwards down the hill towards the River Lavant. Then we joined the Centurion Way, a disused railway, running south to Chichester.
Walking on the Centurion Way is very fast. We were back in Chichester by 12:00, just as the pubs were opening.
Monday 7 April
15km.
We walked south from the B&B, taking a meandering route through town through the cathedral grounds and on to the canal basin.
It was an easy walk today with minimal opportunities to get lost. We followed the path along the canal to the Chichester Marina.
It was cold in the night, but the weather today was the most pleasant we have had this weekend; still dry and reasonably warm.
We walked west out of the marina, following the Lipchis Way for a short while before turning south to go towards Shipton Green.
We caught the No 52 bus from The Lamb PH at about 12:00.