Rake brings together a walking route into the village, a wooded landscape and a historic memorial. The Serpent Trail leads into Rake along a grassy path; Rake Hanger is a wooded escarpment on the border between West Sussex and Hampshire. The Rake War Memorial adds a remembrance of two world wars to these nature and walking themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Rake, you can plan your trip around whether walking, the landscape or local history is your main focus.
Walking Routes and Landscape
The Serpent Trail leads into Rake along a grassy path. Another specifically named walking route is “Liphook–Liss Rail to Ramble”; it follows the Serpent Trail to Rake. The distinction is useful when choosing a route: the Serpent Trail refers to the path into the village, while the second name describes a particular walk that follows this trail to Rake. Check the surfaces and conditions before setting out. There is a rail connection between Portsmouth and Waterloo associated with the route. Check the latest service details before travelling if you plan to include this connection in your itinerary.
Rake Hanger gives the landscape theme a precise form: this 28.2-hectare wooded escarpment is made up of Lower Greensand. It lies on the border between West Sussex and Hampshire; the unusual sessile oak is the dominant tree in its woodland. Those interested in nature and geology will find a different perspective here than in a route description: the area, underlying geology and tree species characterise this named escarpment. The term escarpment describes the landform, Lower Greensand the geological substrate, and sessile oak a defining tree species. This helps distinguish the different aspects of the landscape without reducing it to a general impression of woodland.
Rake Recreation Ground is located on Bull Hill. The site covers approximately 0.8 hectares and is registered as a Village Green. By comparison, it is considerably smaller than Rake Hanger, which covers 28.2 hectares. These figures show two different scales: a recreation ground with a clear connection to the village and a wooded escarpment. Its status as a Village Green is as much a part of the description of Rake Recreation Ground as its location on Bull Hill.
Remembrance at the Rake War Memorial
The Rake War Memorial is listed as a Grade II structure. It commemorates the First World War and was dedicated in 1921; later additions commemorate the Second World War. Its design is a simple stone Latin cross, approximately 2.4 metres high. A Latin cross has a longer vertical shaft and a shorter crossbar, which helps explain the memorial’s shape. The historical context and architectural description complement one another: the memorial combines a distinct form with a history that extends beyond the First World War through its later additions. For travellers interested in local remembrance, this connection is in itself a reason to appreciate Rake beyond its walking routes.
Discover more destinations: Ford, Storrington, Coldwaltham, Lyminster, Fernhurst, Pagham, Steyning, Trotton.
For the broader travel overview: West Sussex.
