The magical centurions way

On the path after Lavant, and a couple of miles before West Dean, looking north west.

location, history and context

Centurions way is situated in the county of West Sussex, starting in the bustling City of Chichester and ending in the village of West Dean. If you were to think this path was used or built by the Romans, to foster a fast travel network to the hills of the north and to join mighty kingdoms together, then you would be partially wrong. It Spans 5.3 miles, primarily following the once active Chichester - Midhurst railway and In close proximity, the Chichester - Silchester Roman road. The railway was active from 1881 to 1991 for 110 years. Centurions way opened 4 years after the closure in 1994, receiving progressive extensions ever since with the latest being in August of 2025, connecting the West Dean section to the new, Singleton section.

Seasons, weather and scenery

As with most walking trails, when to do them is a preference. Only technical, high altitude, high latitude or remote trails need to be executed during the 4 months involving late spring, summer and early autumn. This trail I can recommend all year round as all of the above don’t apply. Weather on the southern stretches of England is generally better than in the rest of the country, however it can get gloomy and depressing in the former and latter stages of the year, with January in particular being a bit naff. From the very end of February to mid-late September Is when weather will be warmest and where the walk will be most enjoyable, plus, hotter = lighter. Scenery overall is fantastic, especially when you get out of the city and past Lavant, although some sections that meander next to Chichester are great as well, highlighting the spectacular nature of the south downs which occasionally peek though gaps in the tree line and canopy. Speaking of the canopy, most of the trail, until Lavant at least, are shrouded by towering oak trees, some possibly reaching as old as a few hundred years in age. Bridges are prominent, as are dog walkers and cyclists. Rarely, you will come across the odd forager, picking blackberries at summers end, blessing the trail.

difficulty, length and terrain

Difficulty is easy. That I touched on before, as there is not much incline unless you choose to climb any hills surrounding the path, though the length is the killer. 6.8 Miles is the length from the start, next to Bishop Luffa School in Chichester, to the end, after the extension at Singleton station. 5.3 Miles is the length if you reach West Dean.

food, travel and accommodation

Tesco in Chichester just at the start of the walk and West Dean village stores at the end, sell food, with the latter selling sandwiches and sizable snacks, ready to fuel you on your journey back down the path. Alternatively, there is a pub, The Selsey Arms, with accommodation and food. The pub can be found at West Dean with other accommodation located in Chichester, found over a broad spectrum. Travel to centurions way is subjective, obviously depending on where you live with Trains running from London Victoria, Southampton Central and Brighton to Chichester. The No.60 bus weaves through the south downs from Midhurst to Chichester and Vice Versa at hourly intervals, allowing one to get the bus back to Chichester, albeit with a tad of planning required.

Equipment

With regards to bag choice, a small 20<35L rucksack/bag should suffice as this is not multi-day and relatively easy, but is, however, long. Remember to take the essentials: wet weather gear (depending on weather), first aid kit, water (how much to take again, depending on weather), bin bag liner, adequate electrical power, emergency food and a whistle. Tell someone where you are going in case of emergency and don’t be vague. Don’t layer badly, have a base, mid layer and shell as a minimum and bring extra layers for emergency. Remember to make sure all clothing is either wool or synthetic. Any pants will do. Don’t go for jeans and try to go for something fast drying. Plus get yourself some nice synthetic/merino wool socks as they will help keep your feet warm and comfortable. That takes us nicely to footwear. This is not a technical trail, so go for trail runners/trainers, as they are light on foot and dry fast compared to boots.

Costs

Now its time for the mathsy bits.

Excluding standing costs such as clothes and equipment and including food, accommodation and transport, this could be done for under £250 with a tight budget if you are including accommodation only on one end, with west dean being more expensive by about £25 → £75 per night. Food should set you back around £10 → £25 and transport should cost anywhere from £50 → £60.

Closing thoughts, rating and recommendation

Centurions way is a well rounded path with lots of history, continual development and views. At a short stretch from either London or Southampton, it is not only accessible, but worth it. Spend time exploring Chichester’s surrounding area, history and culture, realising only then, it is completely worth it.

Rating - 89/100

Due to the fact it is on a cusp of a two day walk if you come from afar.

I recommend this walk, the setting of the south downs is sublime. I especially recommend staying at West Dean (even if a bit expensive) to properly soak up and explore the surrounding area.