Length: 31.8 km (19.8 mi) [shorter walk possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 640/623m
Net Walking Time: 7 ¾ hours
Toughness: 8/10
Take the 09.35 Bognor Regis & Southampton Central train from Victoria
(09.42 CJ, 09.53 EC), arrives Pulborough 10.52. From the bottom of
Station Road take Bus 1 to Midhurst at 10.58.
Return trains from Arundel: xx.14 and xx.44 to 21.44, then 23.00 (change
Gatwick Airport).
Buy an Arundel return.
The route of this walk leads out of Midhurst in a northerly direction
past the ruined Cowdray Castle by the River Rother and via Cowdray Park with
its polo fields, then passes Easebourne priory and takes you through a mix of
farmland, some wooded hills and the Lod Valley, past Nyetimber and Upperton
vineyards to Tillington, a first possible lunch stop. From there you cross the
Rother Valley towards the South Downs, and commence through Burton Park with
its pretty church and imposing mansion.
Surrounded by wooded downs you continue through the sleepy villages of
Barlavington and Sutton and on through Bignor and West Burton before ascending
through an atmospheric hanging wood (Egg Bottom Coppice) to cross the South
Downs Way near Westburton Hill.
An ascent through Houghton Forest to the highest point of the walk is
followed by a series of smaller woods and heathlands all the way to Arundel’s
picturesque centre, 1 kilometre from the station.
This walk has been written up in both directions in separate pdf’s. Make
sure you download the correct file.
Bus Shortcuts:
Line 1 Midhurst –
Petworth – Worthing (via Pulborough Station) travels
along the A272 between Midhurst and Tillington, enabling a shorter walk. From
Midhurst the times are as follows: hourly on xx.30 (stops Tillington 8 minutes later and
Petworth 15 mins later).
Line 99 Chichester –
Duncton – Petworth (6 buses per day) runs along the A285, enabling a
finish at Duncton/Coultershaw Bridge (Badgers Inn) or in Duncton (The
Cricketers), and through Sutton. In Sutton, this is a flexible service, pre-booking is required: via the
Ride Pingo App or by calling 01243 858 854, 06.30-19.30 Mon-Sat! In Petworth
you must connect to above Bus 1.
Lunch: The Horse Guards
Inn in Tillington (9.2 km/5.7 mi, food to 14.30); The Old Railway Station in Coultershaw
(12.4 km/7.7 mi, booking is essential!); The Badgers in Coultershaw
Bridge (12.7 km/7.9 mi, 350m off route, food to 14.30).
Tea: The Kings Arms, The Eagle Inn, Butlers, Bay Tree Restaurant, Ice
Cream & Candy Parlour, La Campania, Motte & Bailey Café,
The Norfolk Arms, The Red Lion, Ristorante Osteria Pappardelle,
Pizza Express, The Swan Hotel.
For summary, map, height profile, pdf directions,
photos and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.217
1 comment:
N=6 on the walk. On the Cowdray Estate, the polo fields were empty, but the golf course quite busy, and we also witnessed what looked like a training session for hunting dogs. We experienced a few squalls and short bursts of rain, with short sunny periods in-between. Once we got onto the Vineyard Avenue between River and Tillington, the rain had finished for good. Lunch had been pre-booked at The Badgers in Coultershaw for 14.00, where the 2 picnickers walked on (20.14 train for them).
We left the pub after an hour and three quarters. The magnificent Burton Park estate and Barlavington impressed with plenty of mature tree swayed by the strong wind.
On up the Downs, where we encountered lots of participants in the Race to the King, a 50km or 100km extravaganza (paid for).
More quiet woods followed and we reached Arundel just before 20.00. A drink at the Norfolk Arms Hotel and dinner at an Italian opposite followed. 21.44 train for us.
W=some-rain-early-then-cloudy-with-lots-of-sun-always-windy
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