# A self-catering walking holiday in the South Downs, on the Octagon Way > The Marden is three homes in West Marden, in the South Downs National Park about 10 miles from Chichester. Nine waymarked Octagon walks of 1.7 to 15 miles start within two and a half miles, one of them in the village, and the South Downs Way at Harting Down is about 10 minutes by car. A week is from £896 in Barley Cottage, or from £1,204 in Keepers or The Old Stables, which have wood burners. - **Walks nearby:** 9, from 1.7 to 15 miles - **South Downs Way:** About 10 minutes by car - **Kingley Vale:** About 12 minutes by car - **From:** £896 a week ## Which home for walkers In winter, choose [Keepers](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/keepers) or [The Old Stables](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/the-old-stables). Both have a wood-burning stove with logs provided, a bath, and a washing machine and tumble dryer for wet kit. Keepers has underfloor heating, which dries boots overnight better than anything. With a dog, it is [Barley Cottage](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/barley-cottage), the only one that takes them. It is also the least expensive, from £896 a week. A walking group of up to 12 can take [all three](https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/whole-farm-hire). ## Walks without the car A footpath crosses the farm from the gate, and a path climbs to a viewpoint at 183 metres with the Isle of Wight in sight on a clear day. The [Octagon walks](https://themarden.co.uk/local/octagon-walks) are nine waymarked routes around the eight villages of this corner of the Downs. The West Marden loop is 2.7 miles and starts in the village. Two Compton loops, 2.9 and 3.2 miles, start within three quarters of a mile. The Octagon Way itself is 15.2 miles with 462 metres of climb, a full day, and it passes a quarter of a mile from the homes. There are pubs on the route at Walderton and Stoughton. Two long-distance paths come this way as well. The Sussex Border Path, from Emsworth to Rye, passes Compton and West Marden, and the Monarch’s Way runs through Walderton, 2.5 miles down the valley. This is quiet country. On a winter weekday you can walk for two hours and meet nobody. ## The South Downs Way and Kingley Vale We are not on the [South Downs Way](https://themarden.co.uk/local/south-downs-way). The 100-mile trail from Winchester to Eastbourne follows the ridge to the north. The nearest place to join it is the National Trust car park at [Harting Down](https://themarden.co.uk/local/uppark-and-harting-down), 4.8 miles and about 10 minutes by car. Queen Elizabeth Country Park, where the trail passes a café and toilets, is 8 miles and about 15 minutes. So the farm works as a base for walking sections of the trail by day, not as a stop on a through-walk. [Kingley Vale](https://themarden.co.uk/local/kingley-vale) is about 12 minutes by car. The Octagon walk from Stoughton climbs through the yew forest to 205 metres on Bow Hill: 4.1 miles, 168 metres of climb, and the hilliest of the short walks. The Hare and Hounds is at the bottom. ## What walkers ask The area is on Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL8. The National Park’s Octagon booklets have turn-by-turn directions, and our Local page has each route as a GPX file. Mobile signal comes and goes in the valleys, and at the farm it is poor on every network except EE. Carry a paper map. The chalk is slippery after rain and the valley bottoms are muddy from November to March. We do not run lifts to trailheads or carry bags. For one-way walks, bus 54 between Chichester and Petersfield stops in West Marden, Compton and Walderton five times a day each way, Monday to Saturday. There is no Sunday bus. The Victoria Inn is a very short walk from the homes, and the nearest shop for sandwiches is in Rowlands Castle, five minutes by car. ## When to come and how to book The walking is good all year. Bluebells are out from late April to mid-May, and October brings the colour to the beech hangers. January to March is the quietest time on the paths and in the homes. Outside the school holidays we take stays shorter than a week. Ask us for a price. There is a three-night minimum over Goodwood events, Easter, half-terms and Christmas, and no booking fees when you book direct. ## Questions ### Can you walk from the homes without driving? Yes. A footpath starts at the farm gate, the 2.7-mile West Marden loop starts in the village and the 15.2-mile Octagon Way passes a quarter of a mile away. ### How far is The Marden from the South Downs Way? The nearest place to join the trail is Harting Down car park, 4.8 miles and about 10 minutes by car. Queen Elizabeth Country Park is 8 miles and about 15 minutes. ### What is the Octagon Way? A waymarked 15.2-mile loop with 462 metres of climb through the eight villages around the Mardens. Allow six to seven hours. Eight shorter Octagon walks run from 1.7 to 4.1 miles. ### Is there somewhere to dry wet boots and clothes? Keepers and The Old Stables have a wood-burning stove and a tumble dryer, and Keepers has underfloor heating. Barley Cottage has central heating and a washing machine. ### Can I stay for one night while walking the South Downs Way? No. We take short stays outside the school holidays, not single nights, and the farm is nearly 5 miles by road from the trail. It works better as a base for several day walks. ### Which pubs can you walk to? The Victoria Inn is in the village. The Barley Mow in Walderton and the Hare and Hounds in Stoughton are both on an Octagon walk. See our [pub guide](https://themarden.co.uk/local/pubs). ## Related - [Walks from the door: the Octagon Way and its eight short loops](https://themarden.co.uk/local/octagon-walks.md) - [The South Downs Way and other long paths near West Marden](https://themarden.co.uk/local/south-downs-way.md) - [Kingley Vale: the yew forest and the Devil’s Humps](https://themarden.co.uk/local/kingley-vale.md) - [Uppark and Harting Down: a house on the crest and the downland beside it](https://themarden.co.uk/local/uppark-and-harting-down.md) - [Pubs near West Marden, nearest first](https://themarden.co.uk/local/pubs.md) - [A dog-friendly place to stay in the South Downs, near Chichester](https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/dog-friendly-stays.md) ## Booking Book direct with The Marden at https://themarden.co.uk (no booking fees), or message us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/447822026091. West Marden Farm, West Marden, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9EN. Page: https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/walking-holidays · Last updated 2026-11-14