Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea hike

Exit the station and cross the road onto the footpath opposite. Turn right and follow the footpath along the side of the road for about 1640ft until you reach Tittern Lane on your right. Cross the road and walk uphill on Tittern Lane.

The lane curves to the right at the top and shortly afterwards you’ll notice two wide wooden barriers on the muddy bank to the left, waymarked for the South Downs Way.

Turn left here, uphill through the gate, and onto the narrow stony trail. Continue uphill and when you reach the farm keep on the left-hand trail, ignoring the other tracks. The South Downs Way follows the fence line on the left all the way up the grassy Amberley Mount ahead of you.

Pass through the gate at the top and continue on this trail, in the same direction for the next 3.0mi. Along the way you’ll pass a small car park and see views of the ocean on your right, with the giant Arundel Castle in the distance.

After 3.0mi, the trail enters another small car park. Follow the trail through the car park in the same direction to the gate at the top, waymarked for Washington and the South Downs Way.

After 0.5mi, at the second cattle grid, the trail takes a left turn, up and over a grassy hill, with the fence line now on your left.

Pass through the gate at the end of the field and continue on the stony trail ahead, between two fields. The trail drops steeply downhill and becomes shaded with trees on each side. As you exit the trees onto a driveway there is a drinking water tap on your right-hand side, opposite the first house on the left. One of the few places to replenish your water bottles.

Follow the driveway down to the busy main road (A24) and take your time to cross it with great care. There is a small footpath on the left to point you in the direction of the South Downs Way.

Once on the other side of the A24, follow the lane uphill, waymarked for the South Downs Way and the River Ardur, crossing over another small road on the way. The lane curves uphill to the right into the Washington car park. Follow the gravel track at the top of the car park and turn left at the first fork shortly afterwards.

The trail climbs steeply uphill here and when it levels out take the trail to the left, clearly waymarked. The trail passes Chanctonbury Dewpond and then reaches a clear grassy area with the ancient Chanctonbury ring – the tree covered hill fort, directly ahead of you. The panoramic views here are incredible and make for a popular picnic spot.

After the trees the trail heads diagonally downhill to the right. When you reach a fork, turn left, between two fields and continue on the stony chalk trail for the next 1.5mi until you reach Bostal Road.

Cross Bostal Road and take the South Downs Way trail directly opposite, walking parallel with the road on your right. Continue on the trail straight ahead after the car park and at the next gate, just before another small parking area, turn left alongside the field edge.

Over the next 1.5mi you’ll pass through 2 gates and walk past a pig farm. When the trail turns downhill stick to the field edge on your right, towards the second part of the pig farm below.

Pass through the gate on the left at the bottom of the field and continue downhill through the narrow tree lined trail until you reach the road.

Turn right on the road and follow it through the village of Botophs, until you turn left onto the public footpath, just after Pear Tree Cottage. Walk through the small field and exit up a small step in the left-hand corner. Turn right onto the trail and then left at the junction shortly afterwards. Cross over the bridge and take the trail on the right, alongside the River Ardur, way marked for the Downs Link.

Follow the easily marked Downs Link for just over 2.0mi until you reach the large footbridge crossing the river to the right. Turn left, away from the bridge, to reach the road. Turn right onto the footpath and cross over the road at the Amsterdam Inn to walk up Upper Shoreham Road.

After a short distance take Connaught Road, the first road on your right, and follow it all the way back to the station, waymarked with small blue signs. When you see the ‘One Stop’ shop ahead of you, cross over and follow the path along its left-hand side to reach the station entrance and car park.