Distance: Something for everyone…..the full proposed
distance is about 15 miles/24 km. However, you could do the book 1 walk
as written (11.7 miles/18.8 km, with various options to shorten,
including a short circular version of 8.5 miles/13.6 km) or for late
starters, you could plan to arrive in Amberley about 12:30ish and do the
afternoon leg of 9 miles/14 km….
Difficulty: 3-5 out of 10, depending on route taken….
Train: 9:35 AM Portsmouth Harbour/Bognor
Regis train from London Victoria (9:42 Clapham; 9:53 East Croydon),
arriving in Arundel at 11:01 (or for those wishing for a little extra time
to do the full walk, take the 9:05 AM). Return trains from Arundel are
at 13 and 46 minutes past the hour and from Amberley at 16:40 and then 17
minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to Arundel.
The Arundel and Amberley area provides a wealth
of delightful walking options, both high along the hills and lower down along
the river valley. Additionally, during the month of December, Arundel provides
holiday cheer with pretty Christmas decorations and festive fun (see Arundel at Christmas), making it an ideal place to start and/or finish a walk. Options available today range from a long
walk to much shorter options allowing you to spend more time visiting Arundel.
The main proposed route combines two walks from
our repertoire for a “high road” circular from Arundel to Amberley for lunch
(at the Bridge Inn or Riverside Café) and back again on a mostly high route across
the downs to Burpham and then along the river to Arundel. The full route is admittedly
long for this time of year (and you may wish to start on the 9:05 AM train to
give yourself a bit of extra daylight time). However, the last two miles are
mostly along the river which is easy to follow in low light.
The route starts with Book 1 Walk 32 on
its route through Arundel and Arundel Park which you follow to point 24
where you take the short cut and turn left towards Houghton Bridge…..then pick
up Book 2 walk 22 just outside the Amberley train station.
You can find more information about the walk(s),
including the various options available, and download the walk instructions here and here.
Happy Holidays!
4 comments:
Due to the need to get a "day before" covid travel test, I will be joining those doing the full circular walk at the lunch point in Amberley. So you are aware, I have booked a table for 6 (could come as a 4 and 2) at the Bridge Inn at 12:30/45 -- please feel free to take the table(s) and get started if you arrive first, it is/they are under my name (not my alter ego, Stargazer)!
I will take the train arriving in Arundel at 10:01, then walk up to Arundel Park, down to the river turning right towards the bridge to South Stokes, then up north again to North Stokes (both have very spartanly furnished old churches) before walking on the eastern shore of the Arun to Amberley. If anybody wants to join me ....
I think it's 'only' 13.5 miles. I created a gpx for the route & that's what it gave as the distance. 4.5 miles to lunch, then 9 miles
1 started an hour early, 2 took the appointed train (but alighted at Amberley to do their own thing), 3 drivers started from Arundel at the appointed time and 4 others started half an hour early. These 10 arrived at the lunch pub at various times and were joined by 1 on the train an hour later who had paid a visit to the Amberley working museum (recommended) before lunch. Eventually 7 set-off back to Arundel along the downs, leaving 2 having their lunch before going home and 2 others who also left for evening engagements. The 7 on the hills enjoyed the views and saw some starlings murmurating. Rather than dropping down to Burpham, we stayed on the ridge longer enjoying the views and descended near Wepham to pick up up the standard route along the river which was very atmospheric in the low light and eventual heavy mist. On the final approach to Arundel, the lead 2 saw a familiar looking figure ahead in the gloomy mist and eventually caught up with n=12 who had started about 1pm from Amberley and paid a visit to the George. 7 went up to the tastefully and cheerfully decorated town center and enjoyed a drink at the very inviting Swan before catching the 18:13 with some provisions for the long journey. A very enjoyable pre-Christmas outing in w=cloudy-but-mostly-dry-conditions-changing-to-heavy-mist-late-in-the-day.
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