Nearest train station: Haslemere
Situated on the eastern banks of the River Rother near the town of Midhurst, this wild swimming spot, known as Sandy Bay, is just some 200m from the historic ruins of Cowdray House.
The old tudor ruins serve as a haunting yet pretty backdrop to the winding River Rother, with a gentle current and water roughly 5 feet deep at its deepest offering a relaxing, safe spot for both a wild swim and a picnic.
The area is accessed easily from the town of Midhurst if you’re heading from the car park by the bus station. If you walk along the causeway towards the ruins, over the Rother Bridge and then head left until you see a grassy path, this will lead to a slope down to Sandy Bay.
If you continue following the river eastward away from Midhurst (towards the newer Cowdray House) there are also plenty of opportunities for swimming along the banks of the River Rother as you continue walking.
How to Get to Sandy Bay at the Rover Rother
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this particular spot by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode GU29 9DH into your sat nav, which will take you to the car park on North Street in Midhurst. From the car park, you can then follow the raised causeway which leads straight to the Cowdray House ruins. Following this, head left until you see a grassy path, this will lead to a slope down to Sandy Bay.
Midhurst lies on the A272 and A286 roads in West Sussex, south of the town of Haslemere and roughly equidistant between Petworth and Petersfield.
By public transport
The nearest train station is Haslemere, which is on the Portsmouth Direct Line which serves routes in between London Waterloo and Portsmouth via Woking.
From here, the number 70 bus from Haslemere will take you to Midhurst where you can easily access the Sandy Bay by foot.
By bike
The banks along the River Rother (which has plenty of other wild swimming spots) are great for off-road cyclists who wish to explore further.
There are also plenty of road-based cycle routes in and around the town of Midhurst that can lead you down to Chichester (as one idea), or you simply enjoy the beautiful backdrops of the adjacent South Downs National Park by bike too.
What else is nearby Midhurst and Cowdray House?
Midhurst is a historic market town nestled within the South Downs National Park. It’s a great base to explore further, with the massive Serpent Trail that snakes along the countryside through Petersfield, Petworth, Haslemere and of course Midhurst.
For wild swimming fans however we recommend the Woolbeding Walk, which tracks along the River Rother allowing you more wild swimming opportunities and even the chance to see a dragonfly or the occasional kingfisher.