West Sussex Literary Trail
The West Sussex Literary Trail, opened in 2007, links Horsham in West Sussex with Chichester Cathedral along a winding 87 km route rich in literary associations. The guidebook (written by Keith McKenna & Peter Anderson) brings the walk alive with stories of the many and varied literary connections along the way. Percy Bysshe Shelley's millennium fountain in Horsham was the original start of the trail. John Galsworthy used to cross the River Arun by ferry from his house in Bury and Bob Copper wrote a wonderful anecdote about the ferryman. Hilaire Belloc pops up everywhere, and part of the route follows in the footsteps of his Four Men before reaching Chichester and its strong ties with William Blake and John Keats.
The West Sussex Literary Trail travels southwest from Horsham across the county following footpaths and tracks eventually reaching the downs and crossing them at the South Downs Way
to reach the cathedral at Chichester.
The Dean of Chichester wrote a touching postscript to the guidebook.
The trail was opened in Horsham in April 2007 by Louise Goldsmith,
West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Economy
