Decoy Ponds

From The Square walk up Station Road past the Village Hall and turn right into The Thatchway (1), following the road for about 10 minutes, until it banks a hard left.

Leave the road by carrying straight on (2), in the direction you’ve been walking, over the stile and onto the footpath heading across the fields.

Walk across the fields, keeping to the signposted footpath. About halfway along, you’ll be walking over the site of what was once a substantial Roman villa, though nothing visible now remains. Cross the stile/track (3) and keep in same direction, passing through a metal gate (3a) a little further on.

After crossing the stream (Black Ditch; once a main tributary of the River Arun) on the metal bridge, bear right (4) across the field towards the iron gate to arrive at Decoy Ponds (5) – a good spot for a break.

Go over the stile opposite the two ponds you initially approached (5a) and take the footpath through the field. After the field the path will take you through a small thicket (5b), before forming a T junction.

Take the footpath going to the right (6), crossing diagonally across the field (6a), and then into another wooded area (7), with an impressive pond on your left side.

Keep following the path as it takes a right (7a), then a left (7b), until you reach the back of the playing fields accessible from Decoy Drive (8).

Walk across the playing fields (8a) until you come out onto Arundel Road, and turn right (9) to make your way back the the village centre. 

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