1 - From the west side of Arundel Bridge, the finishing point of stage two of our linear excursion, turn left along a short section of the riverside High Street, then take a left branch into River Road, beside the Swan Hotel.

This section of the walk is through the former port area of Arundel, where there was once a quayside with substantial warehouses – note the obvious Salt House on the left and other clues to a maritime past. Just before the Old Warehouse, after the site of Turnip Green Square and passing Brewery Hill, turn right up Arun Street and at the top of the rise turn left into Tarrant Street.

Walk towards the end of Tarrant Street and, as it turns to the right, take the left signed footpath and drive to The Slipe. Proceed between houses and in a short distance turn left to the riverbank path. Turn right and follow the path towards the A27 road bridge.

2 - Go beneath the bridge to gain the raised bank path, continuing south.

On clearing the last of the residences of Arundel note, on the far bank, the restored mill tower. The raised embankments protect the surrounding agricultural land, which is criss-crossed with drainage ditches over the former floodplain. For the first mile of the walk, after leaving Arundel Bridge, the embankment keeps a fairly straight, southerly direction, to then be followed by the first of the wide, sweeping meanders across the coastal plain. The width of the river has, by this stage, increased considerably as it swirls against the reinforced banks in its tidal flow. Follow the three loops as the path approaches a mobile home site beside the busy railway bridge, which originally swung open to allow shipping access, close to Ford Station.

3 - Pass beneath the bridge to arrive beside moorings adjacent to the Ship and Anchor pub and campsite. Keep to the bank path, crossing a launching ramp, and in a short distance divert right around an inlet that is a mooring for houseboats.

Follow the path as it skirts left to re-join the riverside path.

This location was the site of the Ford Lock One, where the Arun Navigation left the river and struck-out west. Imagine the scene at this spot on 20 August 1818 when a small army of navvies arrived to commence work on the Portsmouth and Arundel Navigation, disturbing the rural peace of the agricultural communities along the way. The canal created a route, between embankments and through cuttings, which links with the Chichester Canal and onward to the naval base at Portsmouth.

This inland route from London to the south coast was never a huge commercial success, one of its earlier objectives being to provide a safe route during the Napoleonic wars. The end of the wars in 1815 meant that the canal project was too late to benefit any strategic military objective, but it did provide a means for transporting coal, building materials and even gold and silver bullion and not suffer the risk of bad weather in the Channel. All that now remains of the canal at this spot is the mounting quoin stone in which one of the lock gates pivoted, just to the right of the path.

4 - Continue south on the bank path, heading for three sweeping meanders and in a short distance noting, away to the right, a plinth-mounted Hawker Hunter fighter plane at the entrance to Ford Aerodrome. The airfield played a significant defence role during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Keep to the path, passing the community at Ford, avoiding places where the going may resemble the consistency of porridge.

A final big sweep in the river, passing a sparkling white sewage works, brings the path towards the outskirts of Littlehampton, walking between scrub and bright yellow gorse.

5 - Pass beneath a road bridge, climb a bank, and divert right through a copse for a few paces, then going left through a metal kissing gate into a mobile home park and marina.

Walk across the waterside frontage, with boats on the left and, in 150 yards, just after the Boathouse bar and restaurant, turn left. Skirt around the boatyard, turning right and keeping to the path that passes a large grey boatshed and goes left of more mobile homes. At the end of a short grassy section turn right across the gravelled enclosure, turning left from the entrance gates onto an access drive.

6 - At a minor road, with the drawbridge over the Arun on the left, turn right for a few paces and go left into Rope Walk. This section of the riverside confirms a busy maritime heritage, with the obvious cordage tradition as well as sail makers, boat builders and engineering workshops all still providing a service to the port.

Continue along Rope Walk to a fork and take the signed, enclosed footpath between the two roads. Follow the southerly path, passing moorings, the carcasses of boats and Arun Yacht Club. The river here rushes through the confining harbour walls, making it the fastest tidal run of any British river. We completion our walk beside the dunes, next to the river estuary. Just ahead are the remains of Littlehampton Fort, built in 1854.

If you feel so inspired there is the opportunity to take a few paces across the dunes, discard your walking boots and soak your feet in the sea. Return along the road, back to the footbridge, which replaced an earlier swing bridge in 1981, and cross right into Littlehampton, walking ahead to Terminus Road and turning right again to the railway station or bus stop for the return to Arundel.

* Distance/ Time: Seven miles, taking three hours. Stage one was published March 26 and stage two on April 9, now available online at the argus.co.uk/ walks

* By Car: Car parking in Arundel, leave the A27 and follow signs. Return by train or bus from Littlehampton for car collection. Start point GR TQ002007

* By Public Transport: For travel details visit www.traveline.info, phone 0871 2002233. Regular rail service to Arundel, walk into the town along The Causeway and then Queen Street to Arundel Bridge. Bus stop in the town centre. Return rail and bus service from Littlehampton to Arundel Station or town centre, or to other destinations.

* What’s underfoot: Level riverbank walking, with no climbs. Possible with a baby backpack; just about possible with a baby buggy, but a bit bumpy in places

* Thirsty Work: Refreshment facilities at Arundel, Ship and Anchor, Ford, and Littlehampton

* So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer map 121, plus a compass for general direction