Ascent/Descent:
439/422m; Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ¼ hours
Toughness:
8 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.
Buy a Pulborough Return.
Buy a Pulborough Return.
This
walk is a winding excursion through the Rother and Lod valleys in central West
Sussex, routing through various quaint, remote villages, some atmospheric woods
and several fine commons, part-wooded, part sandy heathland. Frequent southerly
views of the South Downs and of Black Down to the north and long stretches in
deep, shady holloways add to the mix, making this a very varied outing.
After
leaving Pulborough on a westerly route familiar from other walks, past the
picturesque Stopham Bridge and church and on to Littleworth Common, the walk
leads in a southerly direction through the Rother valley and picks up the
Serpent Trail Long Distance Path up to the idyllic Sutton Common heathland and
various woods to Burton Park, a large estate with multiple ponds in a fold of
the South Downs.
Leaving
the Serpent Trail, the two recommended lunch options are back in the Rother
valley, in Coultershaw Bridge and Tillington, and in the afternoon the route
rises to Upperton and Hoe Hill, in between dropping into the Lod Valley through
woods and fields. The finish is a descent back to the Lod River at Halfway
Bridge, where another well-run pub helps whiling away the wait for the bus back
to Pulborough.
Note:
The route off Hoe Hill includes a precipitous descent down a very narrow and
slippery gully.
A
Morning Shortcut cuts out Sutton
Common heathland (cuts 1.2 km and 48m ascent).
An
Afternoon Shortcut cuts out several
woods and the last sharp ascents around Hoe Hill by taking a much more direct
route through the Lod valley (cuts 4.4 km and 135m ascent). Rated 7/10.
Note:
Both Shortcuts are currently only
available map-led.
After the walk you
will need to catch a bus line 1 (Midhurst – Worthing via Pulborough Station)
from Halfway Bridge. Convenient stops for further shortcuts are: Tillington
(late lunch stop) and Petworth (reached shortly after lunch via an alternative
route through Petworth Park). The bus leaves Midhurst hourly on xx.30, then 17.40
and 18.45 and passes Halfway Bridge a few minutes later, Tillington 8 and
Petworth 15 later resp.
Lunch:
The Badgers in Coultershaw Bridge (13.0
km/8.1 mi, food to 14.30);
The Horse Guards Inn in Tillington (16.0 km/10.0 mi,
food to 15.00).
Tea:
The Hollist Arms in Lodsworth (1.6 km from the end); The Halfway Bridge at the end of the walk.
Back in Pulborough: The Banyan Tree restaurant (300m beyond the station); The Oddfellows Arms (1.2 km beyond the station); The Chequers Hotel (650m
beyond the station).
T=swc.294
3 comments:
Table booked for 13.30, at The Horse Guards Inn.
Intend going.
n=10 adventurous walkers set off under w=initially-bright-sunny-clear-and-crisp-skies to test out this new route in initially familiar territory. After passing the always charming Stopham Bridge and atmospheric Stopham House, the route soon ventured into uncharted territory through the Sutton Common heathland which painted a pretty picture against the backdrop of the South Downs ahead on the horizon. The route continued through a combination of woods and open parklands before eventually leading into a deep and atmospheric holloway initially with sandstone bluff and then trees rising tall on either side -- truly worthy of a film set...Lunch soon followed and, at least for the pub diners, was definitely well worth waiting 10 miles....an idyllic country pub with an interesting and varied menu of freshly prepared offerings which they were happy to adapt as required...Not long after lunch some w=dark-and-brooding-clouds closed in eventually dropping their load of moderate rain for about an hour before the sun re-emerged when we were atop Hoe Hill with interesting cloud formations lingering around us. Although shorter, the afternoon stretch included more ascents and descents with some great views of the Blackdown and Bexleyhill (visited on other SWC walks) and of course the "precipitous descent" highlighted in the walk post -- which we approached with some trepidation -- but managed without too much difficulty....Most rounded out the day with drinks and more tasty treats at the very pleasant and accommodating Halfway Bridge before catching the 18:45 bus to Pulborough for a smooth train connection back to London -- made more interesting with the sighting of a vintage train (rumored to be the Orient Express) passing through the station and some provisions for the journey back .....All in all, a good day out - an interesting and varied walk with culinary delights for all.....
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