Midhurst Castle

Midhurst Castle is the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey fortification perched on St Ann's Hill, a natural sandstone outcrop overlooking the River Rother on the eastern edge of Midhurst. Built in the late 11th or early 12th century by the de Bohun family, it was the seat of the lords of Midhurst before the family moved down the hill to the more comfortable Cowdray House in the 15th century.

Today the site is a peaceful public open space managed by the town, reached by a short walk up from South Pond or Knockhundred Row. Very little masonry survives above ground, but you can trace the outline of the walls, chapel foundations and the earthwork mound, with interpretation boards explaining the layout. The hilltop gives you good views over the Rother valley and across to the ruins of Cowdray, its later successor.

The walk is short but steep in places, and it combines well with a longer stroll through Midhurst's old town or along the Cowdray Estate. Dogs on leads are welcome, and the site is free to visit at any reasonable hour.