NHDG of the Ramblers -
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE
2022 Trip to Arundel by Richard Keast
Monday 20 June 2022
This year saw ten Intrepids starting our adventure in the Arundel carpark behind the Swan Hotel, our haven for the next three nights. Before we could cherish our first cooling drink we had to master the complicated and expensive ticket machine, no mean feat.
The adjacent pub, the Red Lion looked after us until we could off load our baggage and then we headed off for a late afternoon stroll into Arundel Park. It looked like we would be blessed with good weather for the week as we circumnavigated Swanbourne Lake in the late afternoon sun.
After watching a score of gulls defeat the local ducks in the battle for treats given by fellow walkers, our group separated, with four heading for the Black Sheep pub in Offam, slightly further, and the rest the Norfolk Arms in the high street. The Arms was a bad choice as they had run out of draught beer.
In the evening we enjoyed a very pleasant meal in the Swan, selected from a comprehensive and interesting menu.
Arundel Park Tower
Tuesday 21 June
Breakfast was taken at 08.30 and was excellent for choice and portion size. No lunch needed today. Our walk was to take us all the way down to Littlehampton, following the river path on the western side of the river Arun.
It was an interesting walk regarding wild life with over twenty different birds recognised by our resident expert Stephen, butterflies and day moths were also spotted and photographed and even a young deer put in an appearance. The list of birds seen is in the appendix.
It was an awkward track with very long grass for much of the way and easy to trip if not careful.
Not far from Littlehampton we stopped for a quick glass of refreshment at the Ship and Anchor, where afterwards, three of our number headed for the finish by taxi with the rest on foot. Not sure what these three got up to but we got a few strange photos afterwards from one of their number.
The main group had a little time before the Arundel bus was due so we spent a some time losing each other before finding the George Inn for a little more refreshment. One item spotted in an estate agents window was a beach hut just about big enough to hold a bike priced at £20,000. The only thing going for it was that it was painted blue and yellow, the Ukrainian national flag colours.
Before dinner most of the group walked up the very steep High Street alongside the castle walls to view the cathedral. Well worth the effort as it is a splendid building both inside and out.
Evening dinner at the Swan was again excellent.
Wednesday 22 June
A longer walk was scheduled for Wednesday and it started out by once again taking the very steep hill adjacent to the castle wall, passing the cathedral and entering the castle grounds via a public footpath. We crossed the top of the hill passing the very attractive Hiorne Tower, heading down to Swanbourne Lake, where we then headed due North towards the village of Houghton. After a couple of miles of steep climbs we stopped to admire the views to the north over Amberley and Houghton, and to the south, you could see the wind turbines way out in the English Channel.
The group again split up with six taking the route to Houghton and Amberley for a total of about 10 miles and the other four shortening the return walk to base by following the river Arun, around 7 miles total, through South Stoke and Offham. This section was quite testing before the river path was reached. In the Black Rabbit at Offham both parties met and exchanged experiences.
As well as a nice pint of ale, the Black Rabbit offers a stunning view of Arundel Castle surrounded by trees and overlooking a wide bend in the river.
Thursday 23 July
It had been decided to travel back home via the M27 and this enabled us to visit the bird sanctuary at Farlington Marshes near Portsmouth. It was a pleasant walk on the perimeter path between the marsh and sea and we looked down on an interesting wetland landscape and many water based birds. A pleasant hour spent.
At the end of the walk, Mike gave a short speech thanking Ken for organising the whole event with the excellent choice of hotel, interesting walks, and perhaps even the splendid weather.
Already looking forward to next year Ken, put my name down.
Appendix
1. The ten Intrepids were Ken, Mike, Stephen (birdman) Dr Stephen, Dr Nick, Ed, Tony, Colin, Paul and Richard.
2. Birds seen or heard on the Littlehampton river walk in no particular order, swallow, kestrel, grey heron, cormorant, wagtail, black headed gull, heron gull, little egret, oyster catcher, swans and sygnets, wood pidgin, magpie, crow, buzzard, sky lark, reed warbler, greater black back gull, chiffchaff, and house martin. We saw the kestrel hovering not far away and then drop like a stone on some unfortunate mammal.
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE