Walks Day walks # 26

South Downs Way 5 : Amberley to Shoreham By Sea or Lancing walk

A ridge walk along the South Downs Way, passing Chanctonbury Ring.

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Updated: Wed, 26-Jun-19

Date	#	Post
Sat, 27-May-17	12	Chris L Along the South Downs to the sea Extra Walk 26 – Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea Length: 24.1km (15 miles) Toughness: 5/10 T=SWC.26b 09:36 Chichester and Bognor Regis train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 09:42, East Croydon 09:53) arriving at Amberley at 10:55. The train divides at Horsham, so make sure you are in the back half of the train. Return trains direct from Shoreham-by-Sea to Victoria are at xx:17 and xx:42 (journey time 70-75 mins). Don’t bother taking the alternative route at xx:04 and xx:34, changing at Brighton, as this would save 3 minutes at most. Buy an off-peak day return to Ford, which will be valid for both the outward and return journeys. Separate Advance tickets for each journey will be a bit cheaper if you buy them now and are prepared to commit yourself to getting a particular train back. This glorious long walk along the crest of the South Downs ridge hasn’t been done on a Saturday for five years, so it’s due for an outing, especially as fine weather is forecast. There are splendid views to both sides, but little shade along the way, so don’t forget the sun cream. Most of the route follows the South Downs Way, only diverting from it to get to a lunchtime pub (the Frankland Arms (01903 892220) in Washington), which adds one mile to the length. However, this is an ideal walk for a picnic, so there’s no need to divert unless you particularly want a pub lunch. Chanctonbury Ring hill fort is passed in the early afternoon. For tea, there are plentiful cafes in Shoreham. Tom Foolery in the High Street has been recommended and seems to stay open quite late. The walk can be shortened to 12 miles by descending into Bramber (as described in the walk directions), where you can catch bus no. 2 for a 20-minute journey to Shoreham-by-Sea, departing at 15:43, 16:45, 17:39, 18:40 and 19:33. Later in the walk there’s a slightly shorter ending at Lancing, but this finishes with a mile along suburban roads. You will need to download the Walk Directions. Chris L, 28-May-17 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. David Colver, 29-May-17 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.
Sun, 19-Jul-15		PeteB South Downs Ridge walk to the sea T=SWC.26.b Free walk 26b Amberley to Shoreham on Sea (via Washington for pub lunch) 25.6km (16m); toughness 5/10 Trains: London Victoria 10:02 (Clapham Junction 10:07 and East Croydon 10:17) to Amberley 11:26. Return trains direct from Shoreham to London Victoria are at xx:48. You can however get a train from Shoreham to Brighton at 17:07 and thereafter at xx:03 to pick up a frequent fast train from Brighton to London Victoria. Because Amberley and Shoreham are on different lines you will need to buy a day return to Ford where the two lines converge. This ticket is also valid for Lancing if you wish to cut the walk short. This is a superb South Downs Way ridge walk on a very well marked route. There are panoramic views throughout. I have suggested the Frankland Arms in Washington for your pub lunch (01903 892220) but this makes the walk 25.6km (16m). This is an excellent picnic walk and if you do not want a pub lunch or a drink you can have your sandwiches/picnic at Chanctonbury Ring – the site of an ancient hill fort. This makes the walk 24.1km (15m). Shortening the walk 1. Finish in Upper Beeding and take a bus to Brighton. About 19km (12m) 2. Finish in Lancing where there are two trains an hour to Brighton. Distance is 21.8km (13.5m) You can find walk instructions here but it is a good idea to either print off the maps on the walks page, or bring your own maps or a gps device. There are swimming opportunities in Lancing and Shoreham Anonymous, 14-Jul-15 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. Anonymous, 17-Jul-15 Watch out for sharks peeps! Smooth hounds! Unlike basking sharks these eat crustaceans so where that leaves walkers' ankles I don't know. PeteB, 20-Jul-15 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. Anonymous, 20-Jul-15 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.
Sun, 15-Jun-14	14	Amberley to Shoreham
Sun, 06-Oct-13	9	Amberley to Bramber
Sat, 11-Aug-12		Amberley to Bramber
Sat, 11-Aug-12		Amberley to Shoreham
Sat, 17-Mar-12		Amberley to Lancing
Mon, 19-Jul-10		Amberley to Shoreham
Sun, 11-Jul-10		Amberley to Shoreham
Sat, 01-May-10		Bramber to Amberley
Sat, 12-Sep-09		South Downs Way 5 : Amberley to Shoreham By Sea or Lancing
Sun, 17-May-09		South Downs Way 5 : Amberley to Shoreham By Sea or Lancing
Sat, 28-Jun-08		Amberley to Lancing
Sat, 08-Sep-07		South Downs Way 5 : Amberley to Shoreham By Sea or Lancing