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Directions

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1. Amberley village is built along its original medieval street pattern, with winding lanes now lined with 16th and 17th century houses. It is known for its many thatched cottages.  

2. Head W along Hog Lane then turn R onto Church St past 12th Century St Michaels Church, built of flint and brick. It is worth looking into the church – it has a beautiful Norman chancel arch and wall paintings dating from 1300. The extensive churchyard has a yew (which is thought to be older than 300 years) and is managed for wildlife, with flower-rich long grass, lichen, areas of scrub, hedges and old trees. You can often see bats and swifts here.

3. Pick up FP keeping Amberley Castle on L. Now an expensive hotel, it dates from the 12th century and was built for the bishops of Chichester. It was recorded in the Domesday Book and has a long and interesting history as a hunting lodge.  

4. Cross railway line, go through gate and aim for another gate, crossing low lying Wild Amberley Brooks. There are large numbers of wildfowl and waders here, which in turn lures in birds of prey including hen harrier and short-eared owl. You may even see a white-tailed eagle.

5. Ignore track on L and aim for a third gate. In front of you is the 12th century church of St John the Evangelist at Bury, with its cedar shingled spire. Reach the chocolate-brown River Arun. A foot passenger ferry linked Bury with Amberley for around 1000 years at this point, but was discontinued in the 1950’s.

6. Turn L at river and head S, crossing river via South Downs Way footbridge. Turn L after bridge and follow river to Houghton Bridge. It appears medieval but was built in 1875.

7. Cross road and pick up FP across field staying close to river. Climb over stile and take FP close to river along boardwalk sections to pick up the Monarch’s Way BW. Some of these boards are in poor condition so take care. (If the field is flooded in the corner by the stile do not continue as the path ahead will be underwater. Instead backtrack, head across Houghton Bridge and pick up Stoke road adjacent railway line which will take you to North Stoke, where you can take a FP to South Stoke to rejoin route).

8. Continue through Arundel Park where BW climbs above river with open fields on R and stands of trees in the distance. Reach South Stoke and pass through South Stoke Farm with its 19th century granary barn. Keeping the barn on your R, reach road and turn L following FP to L of St Leonards Church. A detour through the churchyard to inspect the 11th century tiny flint church is worthwhile. There is an impressive picture map on the wall inside telling the story of South Stoke.

9. Descend to river. Do not cross bridge but turn R. There is a rather fine bug hotel here. Follow FP along canalised section of river which runs parallel to railway. The breathtaking view of Arundel Castle comes without notice. The fields here are well below the level of the river at high spring tide.

10. Reach busy Black Rabbit pub, a great spot for a drink, before continuing with the river on your L and the Wetland Centre on your R. You can sometimes see a seal known affectionately by the locals as “Gavin” in the river here.

11. At sluice turn R along the Swanbourne river, a disarmingly clear chalk stream which flows into the Arundel Wetland Centre on your R (the wetlands are not connected to the river, which would render them saline, but to the chalk stream).

12. Detour – WWT Arundel comprises 24 hectares of providing a variety of habitats from around the world for its various residents. There are eight wildlife hides and you can see kingfishers and sand martins. There are boat safari rides through reedbeds.

13. At bridge turn L and follow Mill Road to Arundel. There are usually “vanlifers” staying here, and egrets in the fields to your L. Arundel is a good spot for lunch, with plenty of pubs and cafes (and places to stay if you wish to wisely break the walk and explore the town).

14. Arundel was a thriving port, linked by the River Arun and canals to Portsmouth and London. It has a medieval castle, the seat of the Duke of Norfolk (a supporter of the W2W project) and a large number of listed buildings.

15. Follow River Road and turn R by the riverside public garden, avoiding Tarrant Wharf which is tempting but a cul-de-sac. Turn L on Tarrant Street and at junction turn L onto The Slipe to pick up FP adjacent river which goes under the A27 bridge.

16. Follow river on FP across rather bleak low lying land. The river is  straightjacketed between its embankments. At Ford go under a railway bridge and past Ship and Anchor pub before looping around tiny “marina” with its eclectic collection of houseboats.

17. Follow path S past Ford prison on R to area of scrubland short of the A259 bridge. You are taken away from the river but a cut through L at a gate takes you back to the river and under the road bridge.

18. You emerge at the Littlehampton Marina. Hug the river, following FP with mobile homes on your R. Cut through these, following path to meet Ferry Road with ski boat planted with flowers on the verge.

19. Turn L down the straight Rope Walk (where, during Littlehampton’s shipbuilding days men walked up and down to make rope).

20. Do not follow sign for West Beach but fork R at rather hidden SP by bins and green box structure to meet golf course. A sign reminds golfers not to use bad language on the 16th. Then follow narrow FP with golf course on L for around 1km to meet beach.

21. On your L is West Beach Nature Reserve, home to rare and protected wildlife, and the site of one of only two sand dune systems in West Sussex. In the winter the beach is known for sanderlings arriving from the Arctic. In summer ringed plovers nest on the shingle at the rear of the beach and meadow pipits in the dunes. The sea defences here are not being maintained and the landscape is likely to change rapidly as the sea reclaims the low-lying land. This is the end of your walk.

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