In the neighbouring village of Loxwood you can either take a boat trip along part of the canal or enjoy a peaceful walk along its banks.
The Wey and Arun Canal was an important trade route in the late 18th century and brought a great deal of prosperity to West Sussex for a while. It was part of an extensive network of waterways which were the motorways of their era.
In 1970 the process of reclaiming and restoring the canal was started by volunteers of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust. The aim of the Trust is to achieve the restoration of the link between the Rivers Wey and Arun, and so recreate the direct water link between London and the South Coast.
The canal is in particularly good working order in and around Billingshurst,Loxwood, Wisborough Green and Dunsfold.
Trips along the idyllic canal this year run every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Saturday March 31st until Sunday 28th October. Departure is from the Onslow Arms at Loxwood, RH14 0RD. For further information then please visit https://weyarun.org.uk/
If you just want to enjoy a walk along the canal then here’s one from Sussex Life starting from the canalside car park behind the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. 170 years ago this would have been the equivalent of walking along the A24, although not as noisy!
Distance: 2.5 miles or 5.6 miles- an hour to two and a half hours walk.
Terrain: The walk is mostly on the flat, but paths can be uneven and muddy.
- From the car park, head up the bank and onto the canal towpath. Follow the towpath east, ignoring paths that lead off it, for just over a mile.
- Head left over the stone bridge and then, opposite buildings, head left at the signpost. The path leads past a pond. At the next signpost, maintain direction straight ahead into woodland. The path leads over two footbridges, and eventually across fields.
- Ignore the path heading right. Carry straight on, and then at the lane turn left. Walk over the bridge and head right onto the canal towpath. Retrace your steps back towards the car park.
- At the bridge, head right upslope into a field. Turn left, walking through the middle of the field and then through a gate. Carry on through the middle of the next field towards another gate.
- If you wish to walk further, continue straight on along the towpath past the Wey and Arun Canal Trust visitor centre. Head under the bridge, and up onto the towpath on the other side, heading west. Continue along the towpath for almost a mile and a half, ignoring all other paths, until you reach the Sussex Border Path sign.
- The path leads through a spinney, and between fencing across fields.
- Go through the gate and bear right, heading along the wide hard track between hedgerows.
- As you come into Loxwood village, head right at the signpost beside a tree. The path leads between housing, and then runs between fields.
- Cross over the bridge and then head left, back onto the towpath, and retrace your steps back to the car.
