Arundel circular

By Eddie Start

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This walk has attractions and challenges, going from riverbank stroll to steep climb with vertiginous descent, all the ingredients of an invigorating trip.

There is a long-established riverside pub near the beginning of the walk, for those in need of such ministrations, and a tearoom at the end for a more reflective refreshment.

1. Walk along Mill Road from Arundel Bridge to the stone-built road bridge next to Home Farm and just before Swanbourne Lake.

Take the pedestrian footbridge at the eastern side of the bridge and, having crossed to the far (north) side, turn right along the top of the stream embankment.

Follow the twisting path in bush and scrub for 450 yards to a path junction beside the River Arun. The fence of the wildfowl reserve is to the left.

Turn left along the riverbank and follow the path for nearly half-a-mile to the parking area adjacent to The Black Rabbit pub. If the pub’s offerings are too much for you to resist, it is worth remembering there is still some way to go.

2. Keep the pub on your left and walk across the car park to the far side, passing through the hedgerow and turning to the right to arrive back at the riverbank. The bank-side path soon bends to the left, turning northward and passing over a track coming from Offham Farm.

Keep to the twists and turns of the riverbank path for a little over a mile and, with the spire of the church at South Stoke in view, cross a stile beside the white bridge.

3. Turn left up the track towards the village and as it curves to the left in 100 yards note the path through the hedge on the left that leads to the churchyard.

The candlelit church of St Leonard is worthy of a visit. Its dedication is to the hermit who, so the legend goes, slew a dragon in the Wealden forest.

Return to the main path and turn left along the village street to a road junction, passing cottages on the left.

Turn right up the road and in 75 yards take the bridleway on the right that passes beside the brick-built Chapel Barn and other farm buildings. Then turn left on a rising track, to cross a field along a right hedgeline.

The path dips and then climbs to enter woodland

4. The path then descends steeply, on entering the tree cover, and the river is down the bank on the right.

On arriving at a gate turn right up the next field for about 50 yards, then head left to climb across the top of the field to descend to a gate and re-enter woodland.

The descending path takes several turns and in 300 yards arrives at a sharper right, then left turn, almost at river level. Continue along the well-defined route, with a high flint boundary wall becoming apparent on the left and the river to the right.

In 250 yards, after a short rise and as the path levels-off, turn left through a high, metal gate in the flint wall.

Immediately turn left (yellow arrow) along the line of the wall and commence a steep ascent at the edge of South Wood, bearing to the right, with a small plantation of young fir trees to the left.

The path finally levels off after 300 yards and then at a marker post turns half-right up the continuing hillside.

5. At a junction of tracks in 150 yards take the steep, left turn beneath trees, coming to an open, hilltop meadow in 250 yards.

On clearing the woodland there are widening views across the Arun valley to Amberley and Burpham and an even further vista across the top of the Downs.

Head for the stile and gate in the fence, where the path levels off. Follow a line that leads to the right of Dry Lodge Plantation. Continue along the edge of the plantation for 150 yards and then take the directed half-right turn across the descending hillside, making for a stand of evergreen oaks.

Maintain direction down across the next, increasingly steep, field with Fir Plantation away to the right, and finally an even steeper and spectacular descent to a footpath sign in the valley bottom.

6. Take the left footpath, keeping to the surfaced track at a stile and with the top end of Swanbourne Lake into view down to the right.

The path follows the lake edge for about half-a-mile to finally arrive beside the Swanbourne Tearoom and boating quay.

If you cannot resist the offerings here either, then there is no more delightful setting at which to conclude a pleasant stroll.

From the lakeside area pass through the exit gate, turn right up Mill Road, cross over the Swanbourne footbridge and return along the tree-lined path to Arundel.