Three beautiful and varied walks with some gentle climbs on the Downs north of Arundel. All can be started at the car park near Whiteways roundabout on the A 29, but alternative walks might be started by parking in the villages of West Burton or Bury.
In general terms the land slopes upwards towards the West from the Arun river at more or less sea level. Whiteways is about 100 metres above sea level. The highest points in the walks are at C, which is at approximately 165 metres, and between D and E on the South Downs Way which is also at approximately 165 metres.
The first walk is described in more detail in an earlier post.
To understand the notes please see my sketch map below. The map can be saved to your computer and printed by right-clicking the map (a jpeg file).
It can be helpful to supplement my sketch map with an Ordnance Survey map, Ordnance Survey Explorer series number 121, Arundel and Pulborough.
Walks on the Sussex Downs near Arundel
Walk One – about 4½ miles
Never a house to be seen, no road noise at the western end, a sense of timeless quiet (once you have left the A 29 behind).
Park in Whiteways car park by the roundabout at the junction of the A29 and the B2139. The entrance is on the north side of the roundabout on the west side. Start walk at point A then follow the route: B, C (there is a finger post at C. Don’t turn right too soon), D, E, F, A.
Seen as you emerge from Houghton Forest into the little valley, heading north towards the end of the small copse
Walk Two – about 6½ miles visiting West Burton
Start as Walk One but at D head north, so the route is:
Park in Whiteways car park. Start walk at point A then follow the route: B, C (there is a finger post at C. Don’t turn right too soon), D, G, H, L, E, F, A.
Walk Three – about 8 ½ miles visiting West Burton, Bury and the river Arun.
Start as Walk One but at D head north, so the route is:
Park in Whiteways car park. Start walk at point A then follow the route: B, C (there is a finger post at C. Don’t turn right too soon), D, G, H, I, J, K, E, F, A.
In Bury is the former home of the Nobel Prize winning novelist, John Galsworthy. He lived here for the last 7 years of his life. He died in 1933. The house is now divided into private apartments so can only be viewed from the outside.
Refreshments
I am writing this in the middle of the second covid national lockdown. In normal times there are three pubs open near these walking routes, The Riverside Tea Rooms by the bridge over the Arun on the B 2139, and the take-away food kiosk in Whiteways car park.
- The Bridge Inn near the river and Amberley station at the foot of the hill. Address: Houghton Bridge, Amberley, Arundel BN18 9LR Phone: 01798 831619
- Further West along the B2139 is the very old (part 13th C) George and Dragon at Houghton. Address: Houghton Bridge, Amberley, Arundel BN18 9LW Phone: 01798 831559.
- Near Bury Is the Squire and Horse pub close to the A29. Address: Bury Hill, Bury RH20 1NS Phone: 01798 831343
