Walk 9 : Pulborough to Amberley

Main walk: 17.2km (10.7 miles)

5 out of 10

Landranger map 197, Explorer map 121

Though it traverses similar territory to its sister walk (see Walk Options below) and has the same South Downs finish, this walk has a quite different atmosphere to Billingshurst to Amberley. It first passes through the surprisingly quaint historic centre of Pulborough, tucked away on the edge of the modern village, and then climbs into a delightful area of gentle hills, which afford magnificent views of the Downs to the south and the plains to the north. After lunch in Nutbourne or Marehill, the route takes you along the edge of Pulborough Brooks, an unspoilt marshland area which is now an RSPB nature reserve. The RSPB visitor centre provides a possible tea stop. There is then a three kilometre section on a quiet road that at first passes through woodland, and then the hamlet of Rackham. By now the South Downs loom magnificently ahead, and you climb up onto them by a steep path (different from the one used for the Billingshurst to Amberley walk, incidentally) for a bravura finish with magnificent views of the Arun valley.

This walk has a sister walk – Billingshurst to Amberley - which shares the same lunch stop and a small centre section, and has the same finish over the Downs to Amberley. It is thus possible to do the morning of one and the afternoon of the other. The morning of the Billingshurst to Amberley walk is 9.7km (6 miles) versus 5.5km (3.4 miles) for this walk, and its afternoon is 13.7km (8.5 miles) versus 11.7km (7.3 miles) for this walk. As this suggests, the Billingshurst walk takes in about 1.5km more of the South Downs ridge than this walk does.

Pulborough and Amberley are both on the Horsham-Littlehampton line, served by trains out of Victora.

Catch the nearest train to 10.10am from Victoria. Buy a day return to Amberley

Rising Sun, Nutbourne, details to be provided, 5.5km (3.4 miles) into the walk, is the recommended lunchtime pub. It has a basic menu with some specials.

The White Horse, Marehill, details to be provided, is a possible alternative lunch stop (I have not checked it does food, but it looks like it does). It is 1.3km (0.8 miles) beyond the Rising Sun.

RSPB Visitors Centre, Pulborough Brooks has a tea room. It is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and until 4.45pm at weekends. This is a possible early tea stop

Houghton Bridge Tea Garden (01798 831 558) by Amberley station provides a charming riverside location for tea if you can get there before it shuts (5pm Monday to Saturday, 5.30pm Sunday). Otherwise, the friendly and atmospheric Bridge Inn (01798 831 619) across the road serves tea and coffee until at least 10.30pm