Length: 24.6km (15m)
Toughness: 8 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:05 from London Victoria to Billingshurst, arriving at 10:16. Return trains from Amberley at xx:18 and xx:48. Buy a day return to Amberley
This is a great walk towards the South Downs passing a vineyard and the charming village of Nutbourne with the equally charming pub before you finally ascent the South Downs and finish the walk in Amberley with the Bridge Inn right next to the station. There are two variations I highly recommend: The first is just before entering Nutbourne. It leads you through some woodland with a secluded lake and past an old mill, the second is an alternative approach and climb up to the South Downs ridge avoiding a long awkward walk along a lane. These variations extend the walk from 22.8km to 24.6km.
5 comments:
I’m tempted to get the 0805 train - one less hour walking in the high 20s heat. Any takers?
I just called the Rising Sun: they have a large booking at 12:30 and told me that we might need to wait for food if we arrive before 13:30. I told them that will take our chances.
N=3 W=warm and partially sunny. Some footpaths overgrown in places - I have the scratches and stings to prove it! First proposed detour definitely worth it for the sights and doesn’t add much distance. Thanks for posting such a great walk.
Dirk and Hitan, I’m sorry I parted company with you at lunchtime: I tried to find a picnic spot near the pub but there was no churchyard, village square, even bus shelter nearby. I started down the afternoon route, expecting to find a bench or log in shade, but nothing - I ended up eating my lunch on the 15:48 train home! Dirk, please feel free to delete this post once you’ve read it, I just wanted to explain myself and express my gratitude for a lovely day. Sara
3 walkers met at the station. As it turned out a n=4 th walker took a train an hour earlier and sent a picture of his lacerated legs to us as a warning. Too late, though. By the time we got the picture our legs looked exactly the same: scratched and bloody from the very overgrown paths. Allegedly, the land owner refuses to clear the paths to keep walkers away. This 4th walker walked the second variation and took the 15:18 train home.
2 had lunch at the Rising Sun while the 3rd, as mentioned in earlier reports, did not stop for lunch and was not seen again. This pub seems to make a sport out of annoying walk-ins with dire warnings about not being able to serve food due to too many customers: We were asked to order quickly despite the pub being empty when we arrived and did not fill up by the time we left. This is not the first time this pub behaves like this. Rule for the future: Make sure the pub is open, politely acknowledge their warning about food service restrictions and think "whatever" ....
After lunch we walked the second variation and had another rehydration stop in the Bridge Inn when somebody mentioned the Black Rabbit and Arundel ... We quickly devised the fastest route to the Black Rabbit and had dinner there overlooking the Arun and Arundel Castle. After completing the grand loop along the Arun we took the 20:14 home. A grand day out.
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