Horsham Museum will be closed for Christmas from Sunday 22 December reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Coolham: New Beginnings Heritage Trail

A memorial plaque on the New Beginnings trail

Start point

The Selsey Arms, Coolham

RH13 8QJ

Walking level: Easy

Distance: 4 miles

Refreshments: Refreshments are available at The Selsey Arms during opening hours.

Toilets: At The Selsey Arms

Dogs: Please keep dogs on leads and clean mess up. Please respect the privacy of local residents.

There are three stiles. Some paths can be muddy.

This is a walk that will give you a brush with history, that spans continents and the centuries. You will be made welcome at the Selsey Arms pub which has stood at Coolham for over 300 years, with links to smugglers and more recently with the allied airmen who served at the Coolham airbase in 1944.

A circuit of the airfield along the perimeter track is optional but will give an opportunity to consider the importance of sites such as this that helped secure the allied toehold in France, ultimately leading to the end of Nazi tyranny and to peace in Europe.

  • Coolham Airfield
  • Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House
  • The Selsey Arms has a Turnpike wheel and smuggler's spinner

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