Shottermill to Marley Common and Cognor Wood walk, Black Down

A circular walk from the ancient millponds to Marley Common. See beech trees, vibrant heath grazed by belted Galloway, heathland birds & insects. Descend into a sweet chestnut coppice & up to a butterfly rich meadow. 1 steep incline & loose surfaces.

At 6.9 km, this is a comfortable half-day walk for most hikers. At an average walking pace, plan for roughly 1 hour and 31 minutes.

As a linear trail, this route has distinct start and end points. Return transport is worth arranging in advance unless you plan to walk back the same way.

This is a Local Walking Network (LWN) trail — a community-level route perfect for exploring the immediate surroundings, popular with locals and visitors alike.