Whenever I share this photograph on social media it causes a bit of a stir and many people have asked where it was taken.
It’s called Mill Lane. It’s a public footpath in Halnaker (pronounced Ha’naker), a hamlet a few miles north of Chichester in West Sussex, in the South Downs National Park. The lane follows an ancient track along the route of Stane Street, the London to Chichester Roman road.
Over the years many have walked along this route forming a hollow way, where the path has sunk down, worn away by centuries of footfall.
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Finding the tunnel of trees in Halnaker, West Sussex
You can find the path where these photographs were taken by starting at Warehead Farm in Halnaker and heading north-east up Denge Lane (the right-hand branch) into Mill Lane. However, there is very limited parking here, so your best bet is to park in the nearby village of Boxgrove at the village hall. You’ll find further details and a map at the end of this article.
From the farm, it won’t be long before you are surrounded by a magical tunnel of trees. It feels like you are walking into a fairytale or maybe The Shire in Middle Earth. I’m sure I’ll bump into a hobbit here one day!
Learn about local history and folklore on a guided walk
If you’d like to join me for a longer walk (4 miles) that includes this tunnel of trees and the windmill as well as a local vineyard and learn about local history dating back over 500,000 years, Sussex folktales and wine, I run guided walks here. Find out more by visiting my website, Sussex Walks.
“My daughter and I walked with Kathryn today and had a fabulous time! Not only is Kathryn a lovely person, she also knows a lot about the area and is an excellent storyteller. She happily adapted to our pace and preferences and at the end gave me plenty of tips about where to eat and tour locally. We chatted and laughed and it felt like walking with a friend. Highly recommended – thank you Kathryn!”
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Halnaker Hill
Once the tunnel of trees has ended it is well worth continuing along the footpath as it turns north up Halnaker Hill, at the top of which you’ll find Halnaker Windmill. The views across the surrounding countryside are spectacular. You can even see the sea on a clear day.
The hill itself is chalk grassland. The wildflowers you can find here include the rare Pyramidal Orchid and Common Spotted Orchid. Keep an eye open for butterflies including the Red Admiral, Common Blue and Marbled White. You may well hear a Skylark or see a Buzzard soaring overhead.
The top of Halnaker Hill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, as it is the location of a Neolithic earthwork structure known as a ’causewayed enclosure’. This scheduling includes a World War 2 radiowave direction finding structures as well as the windmill, which is also a Grade 2 listed building.
Halnaker Mill
above: Halnaker Windmill 2016, below: the restored windmill in 2018
Halnaker’s original mill was built for the Duke of Richmond and the Goodwood Estate and was first recorded in 1540. The present-day mill dates back to the mid 18th century and was a working mill until it was struck by lightning in 1905. A lovely yet melancholy poem about the derelict mill was written by Hilaire Belloc in 1923. You can read it here, Ha’nacker Mill.
Need to Know
Parking
There’s a small lay-by at the entrance to the farm on Denge Lane off the A285 with very limited parking. PLEASE PARK RESPONSIBLY and do not block the access to the farm or the houses. Parking here has become a particular problem for the farm and residents. It was the farmer who created the tree tunnel so please, thank him by parking safely and without blocking access to any of the properties.
Better still, park in the nearby village of Boxgrove in their village hall car park.
Public transport
The nearest train station is Chichester. From there, you can get to Halnaker by bus in about 20 minutes. You can find out more about bus services by visiting Traveline.
On foot from Boxgrove or Halnaker
There is a footpath from Boxgrove to Halnaker that runs along the main road but it is separated from the road by a hedge. When this path ends follow the pavement round to the right to The Anglesey Arms. From Halnaker, please do not go via the main road to Warhead Farm as there is no pavement for a portion of the root. Instead, go to the footpath at the bottom of the garden at The Anglesey Arms and turn left.
Follow the path until you reach a tarmac lane and turn right. Just a short way along this quiet road you’ll see another public footpath sign that leads across the fields. Follow this path until you reach the main road. Carefully cross the road and you’ll be at Warehead Farm. From the farm, turn right to the tree tunnel. Please note the path through the fields is covered in flints and there are a number of stiles along the route.
From Boxgrove, the route to the windmill is about two miles each way and from Halnaker it’s about one and a half miles each way.
Refreshments
There’s a traditional country pub in Halnaker, The Angelsey Arms, which serves very good food, including Sunday roasts and has a 2 acre garden with outdoor seating. There is also a cafe come village store in Boxgrove called Boxies.
Where to stay
There are a number of listed buildings in Halnaker that now offer Bed & Breakfast or self-catering holidays including The Old Store Guest House, a pretty flint cottage with an excellent reputation as a B&B.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS EXPLORER OL10 Covering Arundel, Pulborough, Worthing & Bognor Regis (and this part of the South Downs), this map shows all the public footpaths and bridleways in the area and is perfect for walkers.
Click here for more accommodation options in and around Chichester.
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This is such a magical photo! Now I know where it is I’ll definitely be checking it out. Thanks for the useful tips
I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
I’ve never been up there, crazy as it’s just down the road really. Will definitely make an effort to visit. So easy to overlook what’s on our doorstep.
I first went a couple of year’s ago but I’d been meaning to go for years before then. It’s such a lovely walk. ^Kat
These are absolutely beautiful – I feel like there are a few famous ‘tree tunnels’ but driving around Surrey and I’ sure Sussex is the same, there are lots of gorgeous secret spots, you’ve inspired me to photograph some near my house!
The countryside around where I live is lovely and I really should spend more time photographing it. For years the only time I’d get my camera out was when I was aboard. I first went to this lane just a few years ago after seeing a photo of it on South Today. My sister knew where it was and we went the very next day. Great that it’s inspired you to explore and photograph what’s on your doorstep.
As you are local, do you know if the blades of the windmill have been reinstalled. I would love to visit to take some photos and now’s the time. Thanks.
Yes, indeed they are! The windmill is almost fully restored now (externally at least). They are just waiting for planning permission to add a door and some railings. Unfortunately, a temporary fence is in place at the moment, which isn’t great for photographs, but the new teracota tiles and white sails look glorious against a blue sky. New blog post coming soon!
Thanks so much for your prompt reply. I am quite excited to pay a visit in the near future.
It looks like such a magical place! I’m definitely going to have to come and photograph it when I’m next down in your part of the world.
Could you or anyone else please tell me if the restoration project has gone ahead? I read they would be restoring the windmill to its former glory and putting the repaired sails back up???
Many thanks
Hi Paul, I’m afraid I don’t know but I’ll see if I can find out and let you know.
Many thanks
Just remembered your question about the restoration and yes, the sails are up, 14,000 new hand-crafted tiles are in place and the windmill looks glorious!
You can see photos here https://sussexbloggers.com/join-me-on-a-guided-walk-in-west-sussex-and-the-south-downs/
Absolutely impossible to find from a map. I cannot find the Warehead Farm nor the Mill Lane from Google Maps. The only thing it finds is the Mill itself. A map with the road marked on it would be heaps helpful!
I’ve changed the directions to say Denge Lane (right fork) which should make it easier to find and included a map. I’m sure you’ll love it when you find it.Let me know!
Hello, lovely photograph! I’m so keen to visit but as it will be my first time, could you please tell me the best time to go?
What time of year did you take this amazing shot? I’d love to go when the leaves are crispy in Autumn! 🙂 thank you.
Hi Aysha, I was there today and there were plenty of crispy leaves underfoot. I’ve actually started running a guided walk in the area that goes this way and up to the windmill. You can find out more about it here if you wanted to join us next weekend https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/364441 and in this blog post https://sussexbloggers.com/join-me-on-a-guided-walk-in-west-sussex-and-the-south-downs/.
And thank you regarding the photo. It was taken on 28th October 2015. Although I think there are already fewer leaves on the trees this year. The best time to go is anytime from the spring onwards until now. I’ve never seen the tunnel without any leaves so I’m quite intrigued to see what it’s like.
Hi Kathryn a lot of folks are from sussex on my fathers side ,sadly my father is no longer with us but i recall him telling me that someone in his family was the last person to operate the mill in its working life is there any records or way i could look into that ?
Our family surname on my fathers side is STROTTON which is an unusual spelling and there are very few with this surname thanks simon.
Hi Simon, These are the three millers I know about John Hervey 1810, Charles Adams 1839–1870 and G R Watkins 1868–1905, although I can’t vouch for their accuracy. Frustratingly someone else left a comment who had a picture of his great grandfather (I think!) who he thought was the last miller, but our website was hacked and we had to reboot it and lost his comment, his name and contact details. If I can find out any more about the surname Strotton in connection with Halnaker, I’ll let you know. All the best, Kathryn
Ooooh this looks so beautiful. What’s it like this time of year…worth a visit or better to wait until the leaves have emerged? 🙂
It’s a fabulous walk any time of year on a sunny day but if you have far to come I would wait until the leaves are on the trees. That is when the tree tunnel is at it’s best. If, however, you live nearby, I’d go now and then again a little later in the year and again in the autumn. I love seeing how it changes with the seasons.
Thanks so much. Yes, a 90 minute drive so that’s really good advice 🙂 looking forward to it lots, thanks for posting 🙂
TIME PASSAGE…..
In essence still a Roman Way
furlong after dusty furlong
a sense of fallen Legionnaires
mile upon leafy mile
on ancient hallowed seamless ground
woven rope-like strands of time
span centuries then to centuries now
peering……
gasping……
disbelieving……
as timbered wheels rumble by
JOHN BYRNE JULY 2010
Reading that gave me goosebumps! Thank you, John.
Glad you enjoyed that Kathryn. Check out the Village Magazine Bosham where on page 27 of the March edition you’ll find my springtime Stane Street piece along with a lovely illustration of same.
THOROUGHFARE…..
Scant sign now the Roman Road
that once passed through this way
long and straight across the hill
with time a slow decay
where feather plumed centurions
to ancient battle grounds
once charged along its metaled strip
blood curdling their sounds.
Hi Kathryn, lovely photograph. Do you know if you can get a bus to Halnaker, or nearby?
Thank you and yes, you can. There is a bus from Chichester and it takes about 20 minutes. It stops by the crossroads in the village near the Angelsey Arms. It’s about a one-mile walk from there to the tree tunnel.
Hiya. I am on a large mobility scooter.(it does go everywhere!!. But not over gates and styles).
Can you tell me if this is mobility friendly.
I see on the 6km circular walk there are a couple of gates and styles.
I’d really like to visit here.
Hi Barnie, You should be able to see the tree tunnel easily enough, however, towards the end of the tunnel it is blocked by a locked gate and the public footpath then goes over a stile and along a raised path to the side of the tunnel for a short way. There is then another gate, this time a kissing gate style (plus another locked gateacross the track), before the path goes up the hill to the windmilll. So you can see the tunnel but not the windmill I’m afraid.
If you could get hold of the landowner you may be able to persuade him to unlock the gates. I’ve seen him drive a car up there once so in theory it should be doable.
Next time I’m there I’ll knock on a few doors and see if I can find out who to contact.
Hi Barnie, I believe it’s the farmer at Warehead Farm who owns the land. I’ve not been able to find a phone number or email so the only way to contact them would be by mail or visiting in person.
Is it okay for power wheelchairs?
The path to and along the tree tunnel is very rough with loose flints but if your chair can manage that it should be no problem until you reach the gate at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately from there, the way is blocked to wheelchairs so you wouldn’t be able to visit the windmill I’m afraid. There’s a little more detail in my reply to Barnie in the previous comment.
Went to this part of West Sussex with my wife today. Enjoyed a lovely walk through the tunnel of trees. Also we reached the windmill at the top of the hill, what fanastic views. Will definately be going back in a couple of weeks when the trees are displaying their autumn colours.
It’s fabulous, isn’t it! So hard to know when the best colours will be and there’s always a risk that a nasty storm will strip the leaves off the trees. I’m lucky in that I go there three or four times a week on my guided walks. In fact, I like to think of the tree tunnel and Halnaker Hill as my office. Mind you, I tend to ‘work from home’ when the weather’s bad. Do get in touch if you’d like a guided walk to learn about local history and folklore.
Was planning a visit very soon. Could you tell me if Saturday’s awful weather has stripped off all the leaves?
Hi Della, I was there this morning, leading my guided walk and there are still plenty of leaves on the trees.
Hello – would this walk be suitable for a sturdy pushchair?
Hi Rachel, the path along the trees is quite rough but you might manage it, however, there is a stile and a kissing gate before you get to the windmill so that would definitely not be possible to take a pushchair to.
Ok 🙂 thank you for coming back to me – that’s really helpful.
Hi, you seem very knowledgeable on the subject of halnaker so I was hoping you could help me? I support a lady with muscular dystrophy who uses a motorised wheelchair. Do you think she would be able to access the tunnel of trees? And can she get tnere safely from the car park- is the footpath you mentioned wide enough for a wheelchair? I’m worried about the tunnel poss being impassable if they are huge tree roots sticking up out the path or if its too boggy. Its a pretty nifty tough wheelchair though. Thanks for any advice, it would be amazing if we could get to it x
I think if the wheelchair is fairly robust, you’ll be fine to visit the tree tunnel. The path is plenty wide enough and there aren’t any tree roots on the path itself. About two-thirds of the way down there is a locked gate across the path. Walkers can continue via a stile but there is definitely no wheelchair access beyond this point. There is some uneven ground where the rain has washed a grove into the path but I still think you can get past that in a motorised wheelchair as you describe.
If you do go, perhaps you could let us know how you get on in case others have the same query.
Thankyou so much for that and yes of course I will let you know if we do end up going. Thanks again, jo