Ascent/Descent:
433/431m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
OR
Length:
25.6 km (15.9 mi)
Ascent/Descent:
558/556m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
Take
the 09.35 Bognor Regis & Southampton Central train from Victoria (CJ
09.42, EC 09.53), arriving Amberley 11.01. The train splits at
Horsham, you have to be in the Bognor Regis part!
From London Bridge,
take the 09.35 Brighton train (Thameslink from Bedford) and change at Three
Bridges.
OR:
for the longer walk option, take the train an hour earlier.
Return
trains:
xx.24 and xx.57 (80 mins journey time). Buy an Amberley return.
The
route follows the South Downs Way out of the scenic Arun Valley along
some steep chalky tracks high up onto Bignor Hill for some magnificent views
along the ridge, out to sea and across the West Weald. You leave the South
Downs Way and pass Glatting Beacon with its transmission masts to then
gradually descend from the ridge – not without a few short re-ascents up Farm
Hill and Barlavington Down – past a few hanging woods into the Rother Valley.
Pass the quaint setting of Duncton Mill and head for The Cricketers pub for
lunch. Onwards you go through the magnificent Burton Park with its
ponds, before you walk through several idyllic commons, part wooded, part sandy
heathland, and eventually cross the Rother River and progress to Pulborough
along a westerly route familiar from other walks, past the picturesque
Stopham church and medieval bridge.
Walk Options:
A
Shortcut from Bignor Hill, through hanging woods to the quiet villages of Bignor
and Sutton, cuts 5.8 km/3.6 mi and 125m ascent, resulting in a 5/10
walk.
Bus
line 1 (Midhurst
– Worthing via Pulborough Station) calls Fittleworth at 15.57, 17.02,
18.12, 19.22 and 19.52; and Stopham Bridge 3 mins
later.
Lunch:
The Cricketers Inn (13.0 km/8.0 mi, food
served all day) in Duncton or – on the shorter walk – The White Horse (9.6 km/5.9 mi, food
to 14.00) in Sutton.
Tea: The Swan Inn (5.3 km/3.3 mi from
the end) in Fittleworth (this looks like it might not have re-opened
after the first lockdowns) and The White Hart (2.3 km/1.4 mi, open
all day) in Stopham.
3 comments:
Just curious if anyone else is tempted by the early start lengthy leg stretch....
Beautiful walk on the South Downs, where there were three at Amberlety Station, and one joined at the White Horse Sutton who had ran most of the way to catch us up. And two who did the longer version joined us just about three miles from home.
The weather was sunny all day, so the views were spectacular. A good pace of near 3 mph meant that we reached the White Horse before 1.30 pm, and we left just after 2 and we all enjoyed the food and the local Langham Ale. Sadly the White Horse has been gentrified and they have lost the back bar.
After the downs we were in the wooded weald, with some road walk. Sadly, the Swan at Fittleworth is looking fragile and up for sale. We met the tough 15 milers just afterward, to join us 12 miler weak ones.
The White Hart at Stopham Bridge was good for a half hour stay and then we walked in the near dark to catch the 4.57 train back.
Great day out.
Gavin
N=6 w=brilliant-sunshine-all-day
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