A Railway, a River and a Rabbit

A Valentine's Day hike to get your heart racing!

This hike will start and finish in Arundel. There will be a good mix of scenery and views across the Sussex countryside. A few reasonable ups and downs and also pleasant flat ground await us as we enjoy some history and landmarks.

Click on this Link to view the route (opens OS Maps)

A Few Features:

River Arun

One of the fastest flowing rivers in England this river will accompany us for most of the hike. It is the longest river in Sussex and is tidal some 25 miles inland from Littlehampton. It's safe to assume that many of the villages and hamlets we pass through chose their location due to the river. Major improvements were made to the river as far back as 1540 when Arundel became a port.

Arun Valley Railway Line

A much loved railway route offering great views of the Sussex countryside. As with the river the railway line will be with us for the hike. This route was one of the last in the area to be upgraded to modern colour light signalling, having previously been controlled by semaphore signals. The route also now uses axile counters to monitor the passage of trains. It sounds primitive but is meant to be fail safe. It works by train wheels being counted into a section of track and then counted out as it leaves. As long as they match then it's safe for the train behind to move forward.   

Burpham Church

A church was recorded as being here in the Domesday book. The current tower dates to around the 15th century. We should hear the bells as they ring out every 15 minutes. There are records of bells being installed as early as 1488 when the vicar gave 12p towards purchasing them. 

North Stoke

A medieval village first recorded in 1086. A sparce population meant that in 1931 the parish was merged with neighbouring Amberley. A few houses remain and a church that is maintained by volunteers.

South Stoke

This village now falls under the Parish of Houghton but is part of the wider area of Offham. The Domesday book listed South Stoke as having 14 households and a church valued at £4. The population declined to medieval levels in 1806. This was due to common land being enclosed for Arundel Park. This in turn took away places for the local population to graze sheep and livestock.

The Black Rabbit

On our return leg we'll stop at this lovely pub for a break. It's a renowned location offering views of Arundel Castle, the river and the wetlands beyond. Inside the pub boasts authentic props from the Harry Potter movies.

Arundel Castle

Although not part of this hike we will have views of the castle. It is a stunning restored medieval castle that is steeped in history. A couple of highlights include the castle being besieged by troops loyal to Henry I in 1101 and extensive damage being caused during the English Civil War.

Dogs: 

I love having dogs on my walks. I just ask that owners please ensure they are kept on a lead as appropriate, especially around livestock and when near busy roads. Please, also remember that not everyone is a dog lover.

Don’t Waste That Space!

Walks get filled up quite quickly, so please only sign up if you know you are free to attend. Plans do sometimes change, but remember to free up your space so someone else can attend.

New Members:

If this is your first event or you are new to OutdoorLads we’d love to see you. Please message me if you have any questions.

Looking For More:

Check out this Link for details of other walks taking place in the South East.

Check out this Link for details of provisional upcoming events in the ODL diary.

(All photos taken by the leader and permission is given for OutdoorLads to reuse them.)