Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Has anyone cycled through any part of Petworth Park, with or without the explicit permission of the National Trust? I'm looking for a way for a group to avoid a chunk of the A272 coming out of Petworth to the west, and it'd be interesting to know others' experiences before I approach the NT folks.
(This is in connection with the small business I run; if you object to giving me free advice for that reason, feel free not to reply! )
(This is in connection with the small business I run; if you object to giving me free advice for that reason, feel free not to reply! )
-
- Posts: 348
- Joined: 29 Apr 2008, 10:56am
- Location: West Sussex
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
AFAIK there aren't any PROWs through Petworth park, and I can't remember ever seeing cyclists using the paths. They're all grass tracks, so people on road bikes would struggle. I doubt that the NT would be happy with people using the park for a shortcut, but that's just a hunch.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
matt_twam_asi wrote:. I doubt that the NT would be happy with people using the park for a shortcut, but that's just a hunch.
That would be my hunch as well. I was a member for a while, but the NT can be a bit snotty. They are, or were last time i checked, very snotty about bikes in Knole park. If the ride were just me or me leading a social group I would be inclined to go ahead and ignore them. But as a respectable business person I think you have little choice but to ask them.
Please report back on their response.
(I coukdn't possibly say how I know about several sneaky cyclist ways into Knole that allow you to avoid the folk on the main gate
Sweep
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Sweep wrote:But as a respectable business person I think you have little choice but to ask them.
Indeed. However it's useful to know about any precedents (helpful or otherwise) before I enter into the conversation.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
matt_twam_asi wrote:They're all grass tracks, so people on road bikes would struggle.
As far as I can tell there's a gravel path out to the gate at New Lodge West, which would at least cut out half the A272 section. The signs at that gate (and at the 'North' car park off the A283) didn't seem to mention bikes, though I may have missed something.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Last year I cycled a little bit inside the park, IIRC went in at the Lodge West and out by Station Road.
Not that the A272 is great, but when commuting everyday in London then everywhere else is not much of a risk
I didn't see any signs "no cycling" so assumed that by riding carefully and giving way to the very few people there, won't be a problem.
It was very dry that day!
Not that the A272 is great, but when commuting everyday in London then everywhere else is not much of a risk
I didn't see any signs "no cycling" so assumed that by riding carefully and giving way to the very few people there, won't be a problem.
It was very dry that day!
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petwor ... -direction says "Cycles welcome in Petworth Park."
Is http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/petworth-en ... se-1500526 a cycle ride or a run?
Is http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/petworth-en ... se-1500526 a cycle ride or a run?
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
mjr wrote:https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house-and-park#modal-direction says "Cycles welcome in Petworth Park."
Thanks, mjr. It took me a while but I finally found the text you're referring to. (It's under "How to get here", in case anyone else is looking.) That's very useful.
Is http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/petworth-en ... se-1500526 a cycle ride or a run?
I think it's a run. The only entries that appear on the Leaderboard at the bottom of the page are for runs, specifically in 2015.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
AndyK wrote:mjr wrote:Is http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/petworth-en ... se-1500526 a cycle ride or a run?
I think it's a run. The only entries that appear on the Leaderboard at the bottom of the page are for runs, specifically in 2015.
Leaderboard is empty to me. Mapmyride is a dreadful website.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
mjr wrote:AndyK wrote:mjr wrote:Is http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/petworth-en ... se-1500526 a cycle ride or a run?
I think it's a run. The only entries that appear on the Leaderboard at the bottom of the page are for runs, specifically in 2015.
Leaderboard is empty to me. Mapmyride is a dreadful website.
You have to select "running" from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the page, then the year "2015", and suddenly lots of names appear. Yes, dreadful.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
And the official line from the National Trust office is... There is a byelaw prohibiting cycling in the park. For an individual cyclist they 'turn a blind eye' (their words) but they won't permit groups of cyclists through.
I did point out that this isn't really in line with the NT's policy to encourage people to arrive at their properties by bicycle, as the park effectively creates a big no-go area to the north and west of Petworth, discouraging people from cycling to and from the house and the town.
I did point out that this isn't really in line with the NT's policy to encourage people to arrive at their properties by bicycle, as the park effectively creates a big no-go area to the north and west of Petworth, discouraging people from cycling to and from the house and the town.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
AndyK wrote:I did point out that this isn't really in line with the NT's policy to encourage people to arrive at their properties by bicycle, as the park effectively creates a big no-go area to the north and west of Petworth, discouraging people from cycling to and from the house and the town.
It's also not really in line with what their own website says! Very disappointing.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Our local section ride, had morning coffee at Petworth House, audit house café yesterday, before heading west along A272 and then north at Tillington. Our ride leader is very experienced and takes every opportunity to get off road, frequently to the annoyance of those on light road bikes. I am sure if there was a way, he would know it and would have taken it. Sorry didn't see your post earlier, would have been able to check it out We have had similar problems are Parham Deer Park, which used to be a route to avoid an A road, Now they have no cycling signs which they enforce.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
Thanks, ebor62. (Also thanks to Gattonero whom I forgot to thank earlier.)
There is a way through and if you're on your own NT are happy for you to use it, according to the phone conversation I had. The route I had in mind involves starting at the Cow Yard in town, then walking through the Cow Tunnel, emerging in the park (but not in the restricted pay-for-entry area). Follow the grass path southwest past the front of the house until you hit the hard gravel path, then follow that west to the New lodges gate on the A272. That doesn't eliminate all of the A272 - you still have to get from New Lodges to Tillington village - but it cuts out most of it.
As mjr has pointed out, their website contains an unequivocal "Cyclists are welcome" statement (albeit tucked away in a corner) so I might push the point further with NT if I get the time.
There is a way through and if you're on your own NT are happy for you to use it, according to the phone conversation I had. The route I had in mind involves starting at the Cow Yard in town, then walking through the Cow Tunnel, emerging in the park (but not in the restricted pay-for-entry area). Follow the grass path southwest past the front of the house until you hit the hard gravel path, then follow that west to the New lodges gate on the A272. That doesn't eliminate all of the A272 - you still have to get from New Lodges to Tillington village - but it cuts out most of it.
As mjr has pointed out, their website contains an unequivocal "Cyclists are welcome" statement (albeit tucked away in a corner) so I might push the point further with NT if I get the time.
Re: Cycling through Petworth Park, West Sussex
ebor62 wrote:Our local section ride, had morning coffee at Petworth House, audit house café yesterday, before heading west along A272 and then north at Tillington.
If you're the cycling group who booked for lunch at the Hungry Guest cafe then didn't have any, they're not happy with you at all.