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Angmering to Littlehampton Walk

A short climb to “Worthing's best kept secret” on Highdown Hill, then down to the seafront and along the England Coast Path into Littlehampton.

Easy West Sussex

History

Club walks since April 2015, and a summary which goes back to Jan 2010.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sun, 03-May-26 Angmering to Littlehampton 6 sunny
Sun, 20-Jul-25 New Walk, Angmering to Littlehampton 3 dire forecast but rain held off
Sean
SWC Walk 445 – Angmering to Littlehampton

Length: 16½ km (10.3 miles) plus whatever you add on in Highdown Gardens. Toughness: 2/10.

10:02 Brighton train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:09, East Croydon 10:18); this is diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton and arrives Angmering at 11:33. Buy a return to Angmering

Trains back to Victoria from Littlehampton are hourly at xx:31, or xx:15 at Angmering if you duck out there.

An unexpected bonus of engineering works on the main Brighton line is that journey times for this South Coast walk are reduced, because Southern put on a fast hourly service down the Arun Valley line calling at both Littlehampton and Angmering. A minor complication is that Angmering has a short platform and these services reverse direction at Littlehampton; my guess is that you'll need to be in one of the rear carriages when it sets off from Victoria, but listen for announcements to make sure you're not stranded in the wrong part of the train.

River Arun at Littlehampton This is another new walk which was blighted by poor weather on its début last summer. It's essentially a short circular walk from Angmering up onto Highdown Hill followed by a stretch along the England Coast Path into Littlehampton. There are fine views from the Iron Age hill fort on the summit but the main attraction there is Highdown Gardens (free entry), well worth a visit.

Just outside the gardens the main lunchtime options are The Highdown, a Brunning & Price pub with a large beer garden, or its adjacent tearoom. Towards the end of the walk you'll pass several places on the seafront and more in Littlehampton's town centre, including a JD Wetherspoon's pub. See the walk document for details.

Please bring the directions from the L=swc.445 page, which includes a map of Highdown Gardens.

  • Lucilla
    May-26

    What a great choice — a refreshing change of scene with lovely gardens and sea air. We might even manage our first foray into the sea this year, toes first at least! For anyone wishing to spend longer at the Highdown Gardens, there is the option of continuing by local train to Goring-by-Sea, which departs 10 minutes after our train arrives at Augmering. The cost of the train fare is the same. (you may wish to buy ticket to Goring-by-Sea instead). The gardens’ website suggests it’s then a 20-minute walk from the station. Meetup with the group at the lunch pub or inside Highdown Gardens.

  • Jane from Kew
    May-26

    Was hoping to do this walk but some dreadful mix up with replacement bus which never arrived. May see some of you at High Down or at Littlehampton this evening Jane Best

  • Jane from Kew
    May-26

    Had really very bad delay getting down here However visited Highdown Gardens in afternoon then Littlehampton this evening Trains seem back to normal now Jane

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    Mr M Tiger
    May-26

    5 emerged blinking from a horrendously overcrowded train at Angmering. 2 promptly got back on to do different starts.(No , I don’t understand, either). It was a sunny day. The first stretch was worryingly suburban but did eventually morph into countryside. A climb was involved - up a hill - but even Mr Tiger had to agree it was a gentle climb. The lunch pub was half way up. Service was fast. The bowl of chips, ordered by a kindly benefactor, arrived in no time. Walker 4 arrived, having started from Goring. A trip round Highdown Gardens proved interesting. Lots of unusual plants and trees. The climb continued till the lofty peaks were reached. Time to sit down and look at the (misty) view. But not for long. 2 sped ahead. The back 2 ambled behind. When Angmering was reached, they were overcome by an urge to research the availability of cider in the hostelries. They both pashed the tesht, espeshully Pete’s Den with its Old Rosie. It was decided to finish the walk there due to the latenesh of the hour, the length of the journey back and possibility of overcrowding if left too late. Two others did continue to Littlehampton. The train wasn’t all that crowded. We never met walker 6 (see messages) .

Mr M Tiger
Main Walk: 16½ km† (10.3 miles). Difficulty 2 out of 10
The walk starts through open spaces, quiet alleyways and unexpected chunks of farmland before climbing up Highdown Hill, open downland owned by the National Trust with the remains of an Iron Age hill fort on top.
Highdown Gardens, created in a former chalk pit, is described as “Worthing's best kept secret” With a nearby pub and tearoom for refreshment, a visit is highly recommended (free entry).
Then, gently downhill to more possible lunch places in Angmering village, which has retained much of its rural charm . After some quiet streets and a long right of way through a private estate, you follow the England Coast Path into Littlehampton, finishing along its Riverside Walk, with the lure of of a riverside café or a town centre pub .
Trains
Take the 9:17 Littlehampton train from Victoria (Clapham junction 9:24, East Croydon 9:33) arriving Angmering 10:48
Return from Littlehampton at xx:13 direct or xx:31, changing at Ford.
Buy a return to Littlehampton.
(If you miss the 9:17, you could try getting the 10:16 to Goring on Sea (arriving 11:44) and taking one of the alternative starts to intercept the earlybirds).
Lunch: The Highdown (01903-924670), near the gardens, is recommended.
Other choices are available later in Angmering The Spotted Cow (01903-783919, The Lamb, as well as a micropub, Pete's Den and a café. Why not try them all?
Tea: Many possibilities in Littlehampton (see notes) .I’ve picked out two. The George Inn, a Wetherspoons in Surrey Street, and the Harbour Lights Café open to 7
Directions: here
  • David Colver
    Jul-25

    Looks like nobody did this walk. I was deterred by the rain. I hope it gets listed again as I am interested to try it.

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    Mr M Tiger
    Jul-25

    As reported 3 dire forecast but rain held off 2 finished at Angmering , 1 at Littlehampton