Length: 26.5 km (16.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent:
440 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness:
7 out of 10
OR
SWC Walk 128 –
Pulborough to Petworth
Length: 18.0 km (11.2 mi) [shorter walk possible]
Ascent/Descent:
280 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours
Toughness:
5 out of 10
Take the 09.06 Portsmouth
Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria, arriving Pulborough
at 10.17 (you have to be in the
rear part of the train, as it splits in Horsham)
Return
trains:
xx.23 and xx.55 to 18.23, then 19.05, 19.35, 19.59, 20.36, 21.36, 22.38,
23.08.
“Across the Arun valley and Greensand Hills to
an attractive town with one of the National Trust's finest properties: Petworth
House (National Trust, ticketed entry) set in Petworth Park
(free to enter). After lunch in Petworth you can do as much or as little
walking through the deer park and the village as you wish. Three suggested
routes through Petworth Park are briefly described.
For
a longer outing, we’ll complete a Circular Walk back to Pulborough on a more southerly route between the A283 and
the Rother valley, with views of the South Downs along the way. This is a mixed
landscape of farmland and wooded commons, with Hesworth Common being
particularly attractive. The route passes two fine old churches at Fittleworth
and Stopham, and crosses back over the River Arun on the medieval Stopham
Bridge (with the lovely White Hart pub next to it).
On
the short walk, and if you want to abandon the long walk in the afternoon, you
will need to catch a Stagecoach 1 bus to return to Pulborough station (hourly
service) [The afternoon route is never far from the A283 and you could catch
the same bus from Byworth, Fittleworth or Stopham.]”
Lunch:
Audit
Room Café
at Petworth House (NT);
Plenty of options in Petworth;
The White Hart at Stopham Bridge (2.3 km from the end);
The Banyan Tree restaurant (300m
beyond the station);
The Oddfellows Arms (1.2 km beyond the station);
T=swc.128.a
9 comments:
A few plan to take the later train at 10.06 and finish at Petworth.
Later train sounds good. I am tempted. However, the walk is 3 hrs to Petworth, that means arriving Petworth at 2:30pm. Will that be too late for pub lunch. Alternatively, 9:36 am train maybe a compromise. Any takers?
9 is the new10.
10 off the 10.06 I've been told when we (the vanguard of the 9.06 mob) bumped into some of them in Petworth...
15 off the 09.06, none (we suspect) off the train inbetween, so I make that n=25 (msg for early posters of part-walk reports: the nequalsnumber thingie is best reserved for the total number of walkers, so that it feeds into the stats correctly; ta) in w=sunny-with-passing-clouds weather, i.e.: as usual better than forecast.
A good day for this walk, as it lives off the South Downs views to a degree, combined with lots of woods (some plantations amongst them though), pretty, remote cottages and several water features. Plus Petworth Town, Park and House. A lovely mix.
The faster walkers got to the Angel Inn before 13.00 hours and found a shady table in the pretty courtyard. All indoor tables were reserved, presumably for the v large wedding party that started to assemble while we were there.
The not so fast walkers ended up in the Star.
Off to the park, where we walked the medium length route, back to town and on to Pulborough. Some good heather displays in Hesworth Common, a tea stop at The White Hart (which serves wine from the very local Stopham Vineyard), then the 17.55 train.
One cuckoo heard en route...
More than 1/2 of walkers did the morning session plus a stroll in Petworth estate, then took 4:45pm bus to Pulborough to catch 5:24pm train. 4 on 4:45pm bus got off at Fittleworth to continue with walk to Pulborough. At least 2 caught earlier bus. Only 4 fast walkers did the full walk.
An experiment to see what would happen if I copied, deleted, and reposted this comment with a partial number in without the n. Will the 25 magically take over from the 9?
#3 Anonymous, Sat 19 Aug 17, 17:30
£1 £1 £1
Absolutely chuffed to get off so lightly on the bus fare
Mr Miser
PS 9 on the 10.06 out of Victoria
To explain the bus fare comment, a number of us got on the 4.45pm bus. Half way through charging us for our fares the ticket machine went into meltdown. A bizarre scene ensued in which the driver pulled reams and reams and reams of ticket paper out of the machine and got increasingly flustered. Finally he waved the last few passengers onto the bus but said "You will not travel for free". A little way out of town he stopped the bus and fiddled with the machine a second time and finally charged those who had not been able to buy a ticket earlier £1 each, rather than the correct £4 something fare: maybe this was the only ticket he could get the machine to print?
Those of us who got off at Fittleworth had a nice walk down to the pub at Stopham Bridge, a drink in the pleasant sunshine, and then a lovely walk over the hill to Pulborough. This was a good way of shortening the walk, I think. In the interests of research (and to fill time before our train) we walked down into downtown Pulborough - an ugly place - where the former pub, now an Indian restaurant called the Banyan Tree, did indeed seem to have a cafe attached to it - The Swan Cafe - but we did not go in, as our train was due.
Wren and pied wagtail spotted on this super undulating walk through this scenic walk of West Sussex. Fine views of the South Downs as advertised and more flexible Lunch time options with the Star (under new management) now serving food to 5:00pm
After a stroll around the Upper Pond in Petworth Park, some caught the 5:55pm No.1 bus and those with FP's turned the ticket machine lights green without any ado. Unfortunately the ticket machine was functioning perfectly for the younger person who had to fork out £4 + for here fare :-(
Other SWC walkers were spotted in the gardens of the "White Hart" at Stopham enjoying the evening sun and refreshments as the bus sped us on to Pulborough after a delightful day out.
# Well-meaning busybody:
That's what I have done in the past, I always assume it does the trick, as long as it happens before webmaster does his 'stats run'. Webbie was talking about setting up the magic routine in such a way that it captures the higher of all nequalsnumber thingies, but whether he has done so...?
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