Length: 32km / 20m
Toughness: 9 / 10
Transport: Take the 8:30 from London Waterloo, arriving in Haslemere at 9:20, then switch to Bus 70 leaving Haslemere station forecourt at 9:30 arriving in Midhurst at 9:55. Returns from Arundel at xx:13 and xx:46. Since the outward journey to Haslemere and the return journey from Arundel are on completely different lines I believe we need to by 2 single tickets. At the moment there are very cheap advance tickets from Arundel to London Victoria available (£5.00). They will bind you to a particular train though. Arundel is not the worst place to while away some time so you could book a later train and enjoy the town and its lovely surroundings.
Walk details are here. Make sure you download the Midhurst to Arundel directions and not the Arundel to Midhurst ones.
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I have never done this walk before and would like to check it out. It is listed under Arundel to Midhurst but I prefer the other direction (for which instructions are available, too) since there is no pressure to catch the last bus in Arundel as there would be in Midhurst. And Arundel is a lovely place to relax after a long walk.
From the description (in reverse order):
The route leads through Arundel’s picturesque centre into a series of woods and heathlands to the highest point of the walk in Houghton Forest before crossing the South Downs Way near Westburton Hill. Surrounded by wooded downs you continue through the sleepy villages of West Burton and Bignor to lunch in Sutton and on to Barlavington, from where you descend into the Rother Valley through Burton Park with its pretty church and imposing mansion.
The afternoon takes you through a mix of flat farmland, some wooded hills and the Lod Valley, en route passing Upperton and Nyetimber vineyards, to the Cowdray Estate, with its golf course-with-views as well as several polo fields, and to the romantic ruins of Cowdray House, as captured by JMW Turner.
Climbing from the River Rother’s banks, Midhurst's Norman castle ruins are passed on the way to the old market town's attractive centre with its many tea options.
1 comment:
n=1 person (me) went on this walk under a w=sunny_sky_with_scattered clouds. Once past the golf course the morning is a pleasant walk across quiet meadows and woods (at least the variation I did) before emerging into the open at Nyetimber vineyards. The less inspiring mid-section is dominated by the farm- and horse-land of the Rother valley punctuated by the imposing mansions of Pitshill (?) Lodge and Burton Park. Climbing out of the valley the walk reenters hidden meadows and woodlands again. After having a picnic next to a quaint stone bridge across a bubbling brook I arrived too late for the lunch menu at the White Horse in Sutton but could still obtain a dessert and the much needed drink. The route then leads for some time along the foot of the South Downs, passing the remains of a Roman Villa (private) until finally actually climbing up the Downs. After crossing the South-Downs Way on top, the remaining section is surprisingly shady leading through woodlands all the way into Arundel. After a quick dinner in the Red Lion and more drinks I took the 20:13 back to London.
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