Hiking the South Downs Way to Arundel
Summer has well and truly arrived in London. With a forecasted high of 28 degrees Celsius, I’m attending another hike with Meetup group Outdoorholics. Today’s walk is going to be a beginner’s hike and I’m grateful for this. Starting in Amberley, just over an hour by train from London, we set out towards the old market town of Arundel.
Arriving at Amberley station and after the mandatory briefing, we head left and briefly follow the public footpath along the street until the path diverts again to the left into farmland. Soon after, we enter a pleasantly shady forest. We follow the river Arun to the left on the now wooden bridleway for just over an hour before we get to Arundel Park, the steepest part of the hike. With the sun beaming from a cloudless sky, we’re sweating and panting our way up the hill. We’re now on the South Downs way, which is part of the newest National Park in England and one of my favourites, especially on a day like today, with the lush green hills of Sussex building a stark contrast to the bright blue sky.
A lot of people have come to the South Downs today with their picnic stuff, children running down the steep slopes in their little shorts and summer dresses. We only stop for our own lunch break when we get to Hiorne Tower. Built in the late 18th century, this mini-castle in the middle of nowhere is the works of architect Francis Hiorne and it only served as a folly, a kind of test building for the Duke of Norfolk. It’s murmured to have its own ghost though, a lady dressed in white who had jumped off the tower, of course due to a broken heart.
From now the hike goes downhill to all of our relief, and past the picturesque little Swanbourne Lake which is populated today not only by a lot of swans and ducks but also by some little boats that can be rented on-site. I treat myself to a delicious salted caramel ice-cream from the obligatory ice-cream van although only a little after, we arrive at the pretty Black Rabbit Pub, featuring beer garden tables and benches along the riverfront. When it’s time to move on, I find it really hard to get up again and I really fancy the idea to stay and just keep chatting to Catia, Jason, Katie, Tony and Paul who I have spent most of the time talking to during the hike. But fortunately it’s not much longer and after following the river for another hour or so, enjoying stunning views of the vast Arundel Castle, we arrive at our destination.
Arundel, albeit being just a little market town, comes second behind the much larger Chichester in terms of listed buildings in West Sussex. It’s a neat, very well preserved town with large green spaces and charming little alleys. In addition to the medieval castle, the town also has an impressive cathedral which we visit just as a wedding is being held inside.
Despite the relatively short hike, we’re all wiped out from the sun so we don’t spend too much time exploring the little town but head swiftly to the pub instead. After all, getting a couple of pints makes the card games of “Shithead” on the train back to London even more fun!
