We are the Hammersmith, Fulham & Wandsworth Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
David C.
In the footsteps of Hilaire Belloc Stage 4. A joint 12-mile linear walk with Hampstead and KCW Groups at a moderate-to-fast pace.
Maps: E/122/121/120, L198/197.
Route: Steyning Round Hill, South Downs Way, Chanctonbury Ring, Washington, Rowdell, Sulington, Storrington and South Downs Way.
Lunch: at ‘The Frankland Arms’ (‘The Washington Inn’ in 1902), 3 London Road, Washington, RH20 4AL (Tel: 01903 891405) after 4½ miles or picnic nearby, or a pub in Storrington (‘The Anchor’ or ‘The Moon’; ‘The White Horse’ is currently closed) after 7 miles.
Drop-out point: Washington adjacent to Recreation Ground on London Road near A283 by #100 bus to Pulborough Station or by #23 bus to Horsham Station.
Option to accompany the walk leader on 12½ mile extension into Cocking via Houghton, Bury, West Burton, Bignor, Sutton, Duncton, Graffham and Heyshott (#60 bus from Cocking Post Office to Chichester).
Travel: Train - Victoria 9.05, Clapham Junction 9.12, East Croydon 9.23, Pulborough 10.22. Buy return ticket to Amberley. (If walking on to Cocking buy return to Ford and a single from Chichester to Ford). Then bus - no. 100 from outside Pulborough Station to Steyning, leaving at 10.35 and arriving at 11.11.
NOTE: This is the 4th stage (of 5) of a walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, inspired by Hilaire Belloc's walk undertaken in 1902, and detailed in his book The Four Men: A Farrago. Sections of the route taken in 1902 were along "cart tracks" which are now roads. Consequently the route we will take will vary slightly from the 1902 route, but importantly we will pass by sights and villages and pubs detailed in the book. The full fourth section is from Steyning to Cocking, although there is a convenient drop out point at Amberley.
Belloc took four days to complete the walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, so we are already behind.
Saturday 1st November 1902: Across fields to Steyning to take the High Road to Washington Inn, Washington to stop for some ale. After which onto Storrington to stop at The White Horse Inn. Afterwards continued along Amberley Road to The Bridge Inn, Amberley. From here to St George & Dragon Inn, Houghton, and then past Bury to Westburton and westward down the sharp dip at Bignor and up the sharp bank of Sutton to the Cricketers Arms, Duncton to dine. Journeyed on beyond Graffham to spend the night at an Inn.
Meet at the bus stop outside Pulborough station to catch #100 bus at 10:35 to Steyning arriving 11:11, £4-6.
Finish at Amberley Station, but with the option to continue with the leader on to Cocking, a 12.5 mile extension.
