Start of Bluebell Woods – St Mary Magdalene Church loop from Ropley

Running trails & routes

Start of Bluebell Woods – St Mary Magdalene Church loop from Ropley

Hard

runners

Start of Bluebell Woods – St Mary Magdalene Church loop from Ropley

01:50

15.9km

150m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

South Downs National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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1.84 km

Start of Bluebell Woods

Highlight • Forest

2.44 km

Old Down Wood

Forest

7.88 km

A single-cell early Norman church built between the 11th and 15th centuries, extended Eastwards in 1848, to form a new chancel and small north vestry. The porch was given as a gift by Magdalen College, Oxford in 1750. The pulpit is embellished by the shields of Magdalen College, Winchester Diocese and Canterbury. The building is 12th Century and is void of any “mod cons.”

stpetersropley.org.uk/benefice/st-mary-magdalene

Tip by

9.96 km

Church in the Wood, Bramdean Common

Highlight • Historical Site

The Church in the Wood

The church is situated in a wood on Bramdean common. It is maintained by the three trustees of the charity of Louisa Francis Katherine Bishop for Divine service. Mrs Bishop was the widow of the Rev Bishop who caused the church to be built here in 1883.

When she died in 1893 she gave instructions to her trustees by a codicil to her will, in which she left £2000. They were to pay the vicar of Bramdean to take services, to maintain the church, and to ring the bell. The latter they do, beginning 15 minutes before each service, to guide the congregation through the wood.

Evensong is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from May to September at 3pm, with a carol service on the second Sunday in December. Baptisms and wedding blessings, sometimes of gypsies, take place quite frequently.

The church has no parish and no funds apart from those donated by the congregation or well-wishers. Recently attendance has averaged 17 at evensong with greater numbers coming to open air services.

Access is on foot by mud track. Park your car on Bramdean common, and listen for the bell!

Lighting by candles,

Music by harmonium.

Dogs, horses and wellington boots welcome.

upperitchenbenefice.org.uk/church-in-the-wood

Tip by

15.9 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types