Length: Main walk: 13 miles (21km), omitting Parham Park 17.5km (10.8 miles) finishing in Amberley: 18¼ km (11.3 miles).
Short Walk, starting in Amberley: 16 km (9.9 miles).
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Trains: London Victoria: 9.35 Portsmouth Harbour train, (Clapham Junction 9.42), (East Croydon 9.53) arriving Pulborough 10.52.
Return trains from Pulborough xx.25 and xx.54.
If you think you might finish in Amberley buy a return to there (same price as a Pulborough return).
This walk climbs gently at first to give a panoramic view of the South Downs from the low hills above Pulborough, where it joins the Wey-South Path. This goes past two medieval bridges on the canalised River Arun and continues across the extensive water meadows of Amberley Wildbrooks to the picturesque village of Amberley.
After lunch the walk heads eastwards through the landscaped grounds of Parham Park, with its large herd of dark-coated fallow deer and views of Parham House. In the next section you go along the edge of Parham Airfield.
You then have the opportunity to spend some time bird-watching in the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve at Wiggonholt, which has a tearoom in its Visitor Centre, before a final stretch across the water meadows and alongside the River Arun back to Pulborough.
Lunch: There are two pubs in Amberley, after 8½–9 km on the main walk. In the village the BlackHorse (01798-831183) and on the edge of the village the Sportsman (01798-831787), a pub with fine views over the water meadows from its terrace.
Tea: The RSPB Visitor Centre (01798-875851) at Pulborough Brooks is conveniently situated for a mid-afternoon break - open until about 4.30pm.
The Pulbrew Café, Pulborough (01798 903060) is on Lower Street at the point where the route enters the village, about 1½ km from the station.
Other options for lunch and tea can be found in the directions here
T=swc.14
4 comments:
I'm half an hour behind. Hope to catch up at Amberley.
There were 12 on the train, one driver and one on the train behind, so #14 altogether and a small dog. The morning path was full of interest although a bit overgrown and #hot. Walking through the reeds in the Wild Brooks was still a hightlight but it was a relief to get to Amberley for some refreshment. Two went to Amberley station after visiting the Black Horse.
As often, we got a bit fragmented in the afternoon but apart from the Amberley finishers, everyone else crossed paths again at the RSPB cafe. So I can report that eight took the road shortcut to the RSPB reserve and four did the full walk. Three late picknickers left the cafe first but I'm not sure if they would have got to the station before a points failure struck the route. The second group got on board a delayed train trapped at Pulborough station. It eventually limped onwards with alternating announcements either threatening replacement buses or promising a non-stop journey, neither of which transpired. Those doing the full walk had just got to the cafe as we left so no doubt encountered more cancellations; I hope they got home eventually and thought the trip was worth it - an enjoyable day out nevertheless.
I met two more late starters as I was leaving Amberley village, so n=16. The loop out to South Stoke and back to Amberley station was also a bit overgrown in places, but manageable.
I caught the 16:19 and ran into the same transport problems. While stuck at Horsham passengers for Crawley & Gatwick were invited to take their chances on a local Metrobus; they then toyed with the idea of sending us via Dorking to CJ and Victoria, but after 40 minutes it was unexpectedly fixed and we set off as per normal. They had the decency to encourage us to make a Delay Repay claim, something I've become all too familiar with this year.
I'm tempted to suggest that the Amberley-Pulborough option for this walk is probably the best choice right now, given the condition of the Wey-South Path on the Pulborough start. Still, it's looking increasingly likely that The Sportsman will be back up and fully functioning as a lunch pub quite soon, which would bring the Circular Walk back into favour.
The three late starters did not have a problem with the Wey South path. Just after Greatham Bridge a fisherman advised us not to walk on the path next to the river but to take a path a few meters back immediately after the gate/style where you turn in towards the river - not sure if this is the bit you mean. The Pulborough to Amberley route may only be feasible after a good spell of dry weather but it is beautiful and well worth doing when conditions are right. Thanks to Sean for writing the walk.
7 arrived at Pulborough hoping to catch the 17.57 and had to wait an hour before service resumed.
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