Wander the Wide Green Downs Green Wide the Wander
some of the finest scenery in England and Wales. and England in scenery finest the of some
Trails, offering visitors the chance to travel through through travel to chance the visitors offering Trails,
cliffs of Eastbourne. It is one of a family of National National of family a of one is It Eastbourne. of cliffs
historic English capital of Winchester to the white chalk chalk white the to Winchester of capital English historic
walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, and runs from the the from runs and riders, horse and cyclists, walkers,
can get the makings of a picnic. a of makings the get can
The South Downs Way is a 100 mile (160km) route for for route (160km) mile 100 a is Way Downs South The
deli and several bakers where you you where bakers several and deli
and restaurants as well as a good good a as well as restaurants and
see for 30 miles or more. or miles 30 for see e South Downs Way National Trail National Way Downs South e Th
itself has several teashops, pubs, pubs, teashops, several has itself Weald. On a clear day you can can you day clear a On Weald.
teashop on every route. Arundel Arundel route. every on teashop
Amberley Wild Brooks and the the and Brooks Wild Amberley
Brooks nature reserve. nature Brooks
There is at least one pub and/or and/or pub one least at is There
Rackham Hill for views over over views for Hill Rackham picturesque Amberley Village and, if desired, the Wild Wild the desired, if and, Village Amberley picturesque
Wepham Down up onto onto up Down Wepham Amberley Wild Brooks. Allow extra time to explore explore to time extra Allow Brooks. Wild Amberley steeper hills! steeper
This route takes you past past you takes route This A gentle walk along the banks of the Arun, past past Arun, the of banks the along walk gentle A need to push your bike up the the up bike your push to need
to off road biking you may may you biking road off to
Brooks. Brooks. Burpham 5 miles/ 2 ½ hours. ½ 2 miles/ 5 Burpham
though. If you’re not used used not you’re If though.
any visit to Amberley Wild Wild Amberley to visit any
miles/1 hour, or from from or hour, miles/1 are no “technical” sections, sections, “technical” no are
(4km) (1 ½ hours) excluding excluding hours) ½ (1 (4km) Warningcamp saves 2 2 saves Warningcamp expect some mud. There There mud. some expect
(Amberley station) ; 2 ½ miles miles ½ 2 ; station) (Amberley a mountain bike and should should and bike mountain a 6 hours. Starting from from Starting hours. 6
From Houghton Bridge Bridge Houghton From you’re cycling you will need need will you cycling you’re About 13 Miles (20 km), km), (20 Miles 13 About
not specially surfaced, so if if so surfaced, specially not
the Arun and under the castle. the under and Arun the
yclists. yclists. c and walkers for These are off road routes, routes, road off are These
A pretty walk along the banks of of banks the along walk pretty A
Rackham Hill – suitable suitable – Hill Rackham Exploring
estimates. estimates.
(1 hour). hour). (1
best to make your own own your make to best
miles (3km) (3km) miles ½ 1 Arundel; From wild flowers. wild
will vary greatly so it's it's so greatly vary will
spring and summer especially there will be plenty of of plenty be will there especially summer and spring
taken to cycle the routes routes the cycle to taken and Houghton Bridge. Houghton and
isolation and space, well away from civilisation. In In civilisation. from away well space, and isolation
times are given – the time time the – given are times
a deserted mediaeval village. There’s a real sense of of sense real a There’s village. mediaeval deserted a Stroll from Arundel Arundel from Stroll
Distances and walking walking and Distances
Downs, past Bronze and Iron Age monuments and and monuments Age Iron and Bronze past Downs,
From Arundel station this route takes you up onto the the onto up you takes route this station Arundel From
shortcuts. shortcuts. roll? st a y Fanc
and Amberley offer some some offer Amberley and
from Warningcamp saves 2 miles/1 hour. miles/1 2 saves Warningcamp from
boats between Arundel Arundel between boats
both worth visiting en route. en visiting worth both About 9 miles (15km), 4½ hours to walk. Starting Starting walk. to hours 4½ (15km), miles 9 About
you. The trains and and trains The you.
and summer. It includes Stoke and Burpham Churches, Churches, Burpham and Stoke includes It summer. and
and challenge that suits suits that challenge and
d cyclists d an walkers for suitable –
going after prolonged rain, but is usually fine in spring spring in fine usually is but rain, prolonged after going
can pick the distance distance the pick can
floodplain. The section near the river can be heavy heavy be can river the near section The floodplain.
the Heart of the Downs Downs the of Heart the Exploring
variety of ways, so you you so ways, of variety
Burpham and back along the edge of the River Arun Arun River the of edge the along back and Burpham
can be combined in a a in combined be can
Mount to Rackham Hill, then looping down through through down looping then Hill, Rackham to Mount
extra short strolls. They They strolls. short extra
takes you along the South Downs Way, up Amberley Amberley up Way, Downs South the along you takes
walk, plus a couple of of couple a plus walk,
From Houghton Bridge (Amberley Station) this route route this Station) (Amberley Bridge Houghton From
three routes to cycle or or cycle to routes three
This leaflet sets out out sets leaflet This but then it’s (mostly) downhill. downhill. (mostly) it’s then but
10 miles /16km (5 hours). Starts with a stiff climb climb stiff a with Starts hours). (5 /16km miles 10 count…
ists cycl and walkers possibilities to to possibilities
Too many many Too onto the Downs– suitable for for suitable Downs– the onto Up Up Arun District Council/Sussex Library/PPLImage Photo:
Things to look out for How to Get National South Downs Way See map inside for locations There Trails Arundel, Amberley, NATIONALCycle Rides TRAIL and Walks A Arundel Castle has all the usual fine art and Pulborough are in England and armour you’d expect of a historic man- on the main line in the Arun Valley sion, plus magnificent grounds and superb railway between and Wales views from the battlements. Open April to Chichester and October (not Sats except in August). London. Bus 1 NATIONAL TRAIL 01903 882173 www.arundelcastle.org between Midhurst and Storrington B The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at via Pulborough Arundel has a large collection of exotic runs hourly except captive birds to see close up plus an Sundays. Buses accessible wetland nature reserve. Café and 73 and 75 from Horsham serve the area less frequently – go to www. visitor centre. Open all year. 01903 883355 www.wwt.org.uk traveline.org.uk 01870 6082608 for details of all public transport. C The historic town of Arundel has many specialist shops – well worth spending Best to come by train if possible. If you must drive, please park considerately. Car parks at Arundel are some time browsing in. Tarrant Street is mostly pay and display, and parking elsewhere is particularly worth exploring. There's also a very limited. riverside tea garden and in summer a heated open air swimming pool. There are many places to stay in the area – see www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southdowns for details. D Why not try a river trip from Kingfisher Cruises 01903 723666 (mainly Arundel The South Downs to Littlehampton) and Arundel Boatyard The South Downs are designated as two Areas of 01903 882609 (mainly to Amberley on the Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB's): Sussex SDW, also does boat hire), perhaps as part Downs and East Hampshire. of a circular walk. continued over
For more information go to Photo: P.Greenhalf Photo: For more information please phone 01243 558700 www.nationaltrail.co.uk or go to www.southdownsonline.com or contact:
The South Downs Way National Trail Officer Arun District Council/Sussex Library/PPLImage Photo: South Downs Joint Committee Arun Valley Rail Partnership Victorian Barn, Victorian Business Centre www.arunrail.com Ford Lane, Ford, W Sussex BN18 0EF Putting you in touch with the Arun Valley by Train Telephone: 01243 558716 Working in Partnership to Protect the South Downs Email: [email protected] Wander the Wide Green Downs
Printed on recycled paper NATIONAL TRAIL
Cycle Rides and Walks in the Arun Valley NATIONAL TRAIL Things to look out for KEY: Up onto the Downs continued Fancy a stroll? (walking or cycling) Two short walks See over for lengths and general descriptions of these routes E Amberley Working Museum Exploring the Heart of the Public Footpath (walking only) is a 36 acre open-air Downs (walking or cycling) Public Bridleway museum dedicated to the Exploring Rackham Hill (walking, cycling or horse riding) industrial heritage of the (walking or cycling) Access Land (walking only) south-east. The museum is also home to a number of resident craftspeople, who work to traditional methods. Open mid March to October, 01798 831370, www.amberleymuseum.co.uk F Amberley is a chocolate box village, with many old buildings and thatched cottages, a castle, two pubs, and a shop. There is also a working pottery. G Amberley Wild Brooks is a large area of flood meadows, one of the richest wetlands remaining in the UK. Much of it is a Sussex Wildlife Trust nature reserve. H Houghton Bridge - Tea rooms, pub, and boat hire. I North Stoke Church is a fine old church with surviving mediaeval wall paintings. J You can clearly see where the River Arun carved out its channel through the chalk. Nowadays flood banks confine what was once a wild and wandering river. K Rackham Banks are impressive early Iron Age cross dykes (boundary markers) from ~500BC. L The river here is tidal, so don’t be confused by which way the water is flowing. M Burpham has a fine church, with a special “lepers' window” where unfortunate leprosy sufferers could peer in but not enter. The village is also famed for its buffaloes (North American Bison)! N Wepham Down has a large area of chalk grassland, full of flowers in spring and summer. It is an Open Access area so feel free to wander here. O Barpham Hill has a Bronze Age burial mound and an Iron Age cross dyke. It looks down on the remains of the deserted mediaeval village of Lower Barpham – the streets and houses are now visible only as grassy bumps in the ground. P This steep sided valley was carved by meltwaters during the Ice Age, when water could not soak into the frozen chalk. Q Peppering Barn Dewpond – once a pond for watering farm stock, this is now an Map reproduced from the 2004 1:25,000 scale Explorer Series 121 - (Arundel and Pulborough) map extremely rich pocket of by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, wild flowers, full of orchids © Crown copyright - Licence No. LAO76902 and other chalk specialists. Text: © Countryside Agency Photography: Bill Jenman‑© Countryside Agency except where stated.