13 on this walk. An early blow was the information that the Frankland Arms was fully booked by a biker event. Two walkers headed off to the Riverside Tea Rooms as a result in the hope of buying lunch items. They were never seen again….

The rest of us climbed up onto the broad downs with their fine views and only the irregular passing of cyclists to disturb us. The weather was sometimes sunny sometimes not . As the afternoon wore on dark clouds built up but it never actually rained.

The towering eminence of Chanctonbury Ring seemed the obvious picnic place, even though we did not get there till 2pm or so, and several of us lunched there as dragonflies flew overhead. Down in the valley there was a vast rock festival, whose geography was interesting to observe. Thankfully the bands had either not started playing or their efforts were inaudible.

The afternoon of this walk seemed long - great rolling landscapes of harvested wheat and low hills. Some may have taken the shorter route to Upper Beeding.

The rest of us passed Lancing College and took the east river path into Shoreham. Two went for drinks here, two or three for tea, one for the train, and two for a swim. The sun broke though for this, casting a silvery trail on the slatey-blue sea. The water was colder than it ought to be in late August but we stayed in for 15 minutes. Then we joined the other two in the pub and got the 18.43 train, where another SWC-er who had been on a nature walk joined us: we had a pleasant run back to London, fortified by “supplies”.

Massive numbers of walkers alighted at Amberley, 29 of whom were on a Meetup walk doing exactly our route, but without turning left to the pub in Washington (as it turned out). They paid £28 (inc. the train ticket, mind you) each for the privilege of being led by someone from Outdooraholics, or some such outfit.

Us 10 humble SWCers strode past them as they were getting their briefing and thought we'd left the masses behind with that, only to soon hear frantically barking dogs in the near distance (this is still on the main road just outside the station). I expected the West Sussex Hunt in full action, about to chase the odd fox. Then suddenly hundreds of runners (lots of them with dogs) erupted onto the road out of the old chalk pit (now Amberley Museum) and ran up the road and turned right up 'our' lane (High Titten). Most of them we never saw again, but their backmarkers overtook us later, when their (a little wider) route had re-joined the SDW. [MaverickRace were the organisers.]

The uphill track was a little slippery, so we were glad to accept the option of the grassy Access Land to the left for a long stretch and then for another. Views were practically non-existing, as the low cloud (or was it fog?) turned everything into a grey mush, and there was a cold wind about. The weather did not really change at all to lunch in Washington, where the pub has re-opened and has potential, but the food was a bit average if we're honest, although it came in large portions. The beers were well-kept though (Old Red Ale anyone?). The front of the Meetup lot had caught us just before the village (I thought they were a led group? But maybe their fast walkers just followed us, as to the pub they certainly did not go?), but that was all we saw of them for the rest of the day.

Back up the ridge steeply, emerging by Chanctonbury Ring. Further along, there were glimpses of views and even some blue sky for seconds, but in summary, it was low clouds that never truely lifted . A pheasant shoot passed us (in their 4x4s, with the dead beasts in the back).

No one took any shortcuts or official alternative endings, so we all (bar the gpx-led backmarker) descended towards Shoreham together, but 2 then crossed the first bridge over the Adur and followed a dismantled railway line into town, rather than turning right along the seawall. The seawall route is quite enjoyable (especially after the demoralising A27 dual-carriageway) and then everyone of us headed straight to the station despite a plethora of tea options (bar the 2 with the alternative route into town and the backmarker). 16.43 train.

The gpx route diverges from the text in quite a few places.

12 cloudy and windy but dry

General relief that we weren't doing this shadeless walk in baking sunshine. Two of the Five who detoured to the Frankland Arms for lunch met the picnickers for tea in the Crown and Anchor in Shoreham.

From the top of the Downs there was clearly visible to the north some kind of festival, with many cars and tents and suchlike. And we came to a slightly tatty van, parked with a couple of dishes, one pointing towards said event and the other towards the sea, clearly marked as a temporary broadband relay for the festival.

Anyone know what that festival might be? From the map the most plausible location is Parham House, but I can't see any major event listed there in late May.

Bus from Upper Beeding (The Rising Sun) are 42 mins past the hour until 5.46 pm and the last bus is 6.46 pm to Brighton. Great walk. Picnic recommended. LM.

Watch out for sharks peeps! Smooth-hounds! Unlike basking sharks these eat crustaceans so where that leaves walkers' ankles I don't know.

Six on this walk, setting out about 30 mins late because of signal problems near Gatwick, but enjoying warm sunny weather with a cooling breeze. At the start of the walk I prefer to walk through fields and along narrow tracks adjacent to the SDW so avoiding a fair bit of "traffic" near Amberley. We split up and reformed along the panoramic route with most having a late lunch at Chanctonbury Ring. Two then went to Upper Beeding for a bus to Shoreham whilst 4 of us walked on to Shoreham which now has a couple of nice cafes in the "gentrified quarter" near the church where at one we had a much needed cuppa and other refreshments before heading to the station and gettinga train to Brighton for a fast return to London. A terrific day's walking and quite tiring in the heat. In the future it may be best to have an early 9.00 am train start for this walk as this gives you a better chance of arriving at Shoreham's cafes in good time. A marvellous day out in great company.

Towards the end of the walk the gpx map route does not follow the written instructions in a couple of places and I took the opportunity to take a different estuary route into Shoreham on the opposite side to the one running close to the airfield. This mainly follows a cycle route but you can walk on a clear track right next to the estuary edge. You also pass a fine looking pub - the Red Lion - early on.

Avoid walking in to Upper Beeding on relentless Cement and Tarmac along the Monarch's Way. Completely poitless. Stay on the SDW until you hit the main road: is it the A286, Shoreham Road. The bus stops where the SDW crosses the road. Alternatively, circle round from Cissbury Ring leaving the SDW and decend past Chactonbury Ring to Findon and get a bus there.