Wild Goose Chase
A friend at work pointed out that Arundel Castle had its Tulip Festival coinciding with my walking Friday and so it was, that destiny drew me here. A suggestion was all that was needed. Working backwards, late on the evening before, a notion of a starting point formed in the shape of Goring-by-Sea. The walk would include coast, hill, woods and river and that's really all anyone could hope for. There are some new paths here but the general route is not completely on new ground.
Nevertheless, I was pleased by the pebbly beach with sands at low tide, the flintiness of the old Sussex walls, holm oaks in the almost Mediterranean heat and the gently impressive highs. The woods were showing the first signs of bluebells but were also flamboyantly displaying primrose, anenome, violets and celandine.
By the time I got to Arundel, the birds at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust had won over the tulips and extended my walking around their reedbeds. This meant that Arundel might have to be revisited next week. Not such a big shame and a pretty good jaunt.
Goring by Sea is reached from Burgess Hill via Brighton in just over an hour. Return from Arundel is a little slower via Three Bridges but often one can benefit from delays and make a quicker change (as did I).
You might want to ignore the slightly undignified exit I made from the station in order to get to Tescos on the roundabout. I'd left without suncream and, fair-skinned that I am, I could not ignore the potential for being completely cooked by the time I reached Arundel. Turns out, Tescos was out and the shop over the road sorted me out. Instead join Goring Way from Goring Street to rejoin Goring Street by the recreation Ground. At the southern edge is the Bull's Head, at one time making a very good morgue, due to the cool of its thick walls.
Bodiam Avenue will take you to Goring Hall, a private hospital. It was the one time home of David Lyon. He was responsible for planting what remains of the holm oaks that line Ilex Way, extend to the Church in Goring and to the Sea Lane in Ferring. He'd amassed a great deal of wealth from trade in the West Indies and had a short-lived stint as an MP of a rotten borough. After compensation for the abolition of slavery and the passing of the reform bill, he made a retirement home for himself at Goring, the current hall being rebuilt in brick. In an attractive foreshadowing, Lyon died out in Nice where the holm oaks trees are native to the Alpes Maritime.
Turn away from the hospital and towards Fernhurst Recreation Ground. Walk along the eastern edge and in that direction into the next field. More oaks here I noted are suffering with a bit with processionary moth. The appeal of these trees has had some impact with campaigns to save them and has sat at the root of a general defense against development. This is evident here and over at Goring Gap. You are at the back of the hospital. As you cross Amberley Drive, you enter The Plantation. Tall airy sycamores devolve once again into holm oaks, as you head south and you make it to the Greensward beyond Marine Drive.
Then the sea. Go west. It was low tide and I ventured onto the sand amongst the barnacles and whelks. I was not alone but surrounded by dog walkers, gulls and crows. Return to what is the England Coast Path and continue through a section called Patterson's Walk. While I climbed onto the concrete platform with the benches, I completely missed the type 26 pillbox on my right. This was not without precedent, the Luftwaffe also not recognising it in the 1940s.
Continue as the beach becomes slightly more vegetated at Ferring. At Kingston Gorse you are reminded that it is a private development and to stick to the path. There is an unusual selection of architectural styles including a bonkers thatched cottage. Just before the western section, turn right on the footpath that takes you up the Sea Lane. At the top is the East Kingston Farmhouse by the pond. It was the landowner here that sold the land for the estate itself.
Between here and the river, you'll see the ruins of Park Barn, the new houses beyond and the sailless landmark of a windmill on the ridge. Go east on Kingston Lane and the footpath takes you north, up to and over the rather lovely Ferring Rife. Go north. Cross back on Rife Way and on the opposite bank go west on the path. Go northwest to immediately cross some daisy-strewn paddocks through the metal kissing gates. Buzzards circled overhead. At the far corner, go over the level-crossing, north then west around the barn. Join the Littlehampton Road just before the new housing. Towards the roundabout, cross the road and take the footpath north to meet the bridleway. You are opposite the very old Ecclesden Manor but it is not visible as you walk east on Ecclesden Lane. Take the first footpath left alongside the horses and you'll get a better look at the Ecclesden windmill.
Now turn east to pass Ham Spinney. Cross into the National Trust managed Highdown Hill. The trig point stands atop the old hillfort. The nature of this hill, south of the Downs is distinctive and is surprisingly airy.
You could continue to Highdown Gardens but I pushed on and immediately went north on the bridleway through Highdown Copse. Trust me, ignore the footpath that veers to the left on the map. It is no longer useable. Stay on the bridleway and it will take you west from Pot Lane and help you cross the junction and continue by the A280 to go under the A27. You will exit on the Arundel Road opposite the 18th century coaching inn, The World's End pub in Patching. On the right of the pub, go north alongside the fenced off pond. There were goats here and a very muddy path. The path north was quite visible on the ground to reach the village and the church. You will have seen the distinctive spire from Highdown Hill. I found it locked. Rejoin the footpath going west and turn north up the hill.
At the top, turn left and enter the woods of the Angmering Park Estate. Stick to the bridleway as far as the car park at Butler's Copse. Now go north and leave the road on the footpath that goes through Wepham Wood. Here the anemones sprinkled the ground like snow and the bluebells were just beginning. At the top is the bridleway, the Monarch's Way. Flee like Charles in the wrong direction westward.
The path descends steeply into the valley with the caresses of the hills on either side. It is well sign-posted, just keep going onto the Crossbush Lane. Continue from the road to the level-crossing and onto the banks of the Arun. Arundel castle is clear from here. Follow the bank west all the way into Arundel.
If you choose to continue, you could cross the bridge on Queens Street, visit the Castle or go to the WWT, as I did. This means taking Mill Road. To return to the station, go back and take The Causeway. I loved hearing the lapwings and who could not agree to a boardwalk in a reedbed. Sadly, my feet hurt a bit too much to do justice to the castle gardens and I limped happily away.
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