Pulborough circular walk
Length: Main walk: 13 miles (21km) . Alternative Walk, 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 Hbr train, (CJ 9.42, EC 9.56) arrive Pulborough 10.51.
London Bridge: 9.36 Brighton train, change at East Croydon to the Portsmouth Hbr
train departing 9.56 from platform 3.
Return trains from Amberley xx:58, Pulborough xx:04. Buy a return to Amberley if you
wish to keep your options open – same fare as
Pulborough.
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 Black Horse (01798-831183) and 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 Little Bean Café in Pulborough (01798-874777) closes 4pm Sun. It’s 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 |
2 comments:
I may come on this walk but do my own Amberley to Arundel walk Walk 22 best,
Jane
Nine off the posted train and one car driver plus dog set off at a leisurely pace from Pulborough and were caught up by a walker from a later train making a total of N=10 on this very pleasant walk in w=mainly-sunny, comfortably warm conditions, the perfect day for a walk through water meadows and woods with long views framed by the downs against the sky. The ground was dry and the going was easy. Our canine companion plunged into what looked like a shallow stream and disappeared under the boggy water but thankfully rose to the surface and managed to scramble out and went on to enjoy lots of rolling around in grassy tussocks. We humans were less daring but I think all enjoyed the landscape and renewing acquaintances after long COVID gaps. On reaching Amberley, one dined at the Black Horse (highly praised) while the rest of us had our sandwiches in various locations around the village (bus shelter, church and sports ground). The churchyard sounded like the best of those options. After lunch, two caught the train from Amberley and eight carried on to Pullborough, taking the short option, omitting Parham Park. we were disappointed to find the RSPB centre closed due to staff illness. We headed straight for the train station in Pulborough and caught the 17.04 train. A few people remarked that the walk instructions offered too many options and left them confused. It might be better in future to mention only the main walk in the posting and omit mention of the circular loop around Amberley which could be a separate short walk in itself. A lovely day.
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