I'm not sure why no-one else has posted a report, so I'll briefly record that there were at least 18 walkers on a sunny day. The World's End mischievously claimed a long delay on food to the first few who arrived but others went ahead anyway and were served promptly enough, with plenty of space available in its large garden. Further on the car park on Highdown Hill looked pretty full but most of their occupants seemed to be splayed out in the nearby pub's beer garden, so Highdown Gardens weren't overcrowded and looked immaculate, as always.

I think about half the group did the extension to the seafront and at least one braved the water for a 10-minute swim, emerging without noticeably shivering. The 'rail sale' fares were a bonus for some of us but having to head for the specified 17:27 train slightly curtailed our enjoyment of a perfect spring day.

7 walkers on a breezy and overcast but no rain sort of day. No problem getting Sunday lunch at the World's End as it was just about warm enough to sit outside. Highdown Gardens as nice as ever. Tearoom under new ownership and not as quirky as before; slightly less choice (no fruitcake!) but no real complaints.

Once again the gloomy weather on this walk deterred anyone from trying out the optional extensions, but one walker helpfully explored a different ending with less road noise which will be incorporated shortly.

Hello, I failed to get the train to Amberley. I hope to catch the group at Arundel. Is there going to be a stop at the recommended pub the Red Lion.

Sofia

17 on this walk, including 3 late starters, one of whom did hook up with part of the group mid afternoon while another two only met some of us at Goring station in the evening.

A lovely breeze blew from the sea and temperatures were delightfully refreshing.....No, that is a lie, actually. It was really really hot, too darned hot , and sticky with it. I don't know when I have ever felt so hot on a Saturday Walk (or rather, I do, but it was years and years ago).

At the start we at least had the sight of the river to mentally cool us: some nice flowers and butterflies here. The climb up into Arundel Park was a killer, but with magnificent views. The arid grassland on the downs was surprisingly full of Common Blue butterflies and - oh joy! - a passing Clouded Yellow. Also a flock of about thirty house martins feeding.

Some of us at least lunched in the Red Lion. Afterwards our work poster left us to prepare for even more vigorous activities on Sunday (a triathlon! In this heat!). It was now even more darned hot than it had been earlier, and while the shade of the Angmering Estate was welcome, by the time we got to the Woodman Arms in Hammerpot our little subsection of the group was wilting. So we called a taxi to take us to Highdown Gardens. Don't tell anyone.

Highdown was a delight and not just because it was very shady, though that was a very big thing in its favour. By the time we had finished exploring it we were overhauled by two who had been in the pub and had not taken the taxi, showing what lazy bods we had been. Even though it was now about 4.30pm, the walk down through Goring to the beach was hot hot hot. There two of us swam in sea that was somewhat seaweedy near the shore but clean further out and a delicious temperature (19.9 degrees!).

On the way back to the station we hooked up with some other swimmers (we calculate seven swam in all) and had a very nice meal in a restaurant called the Tides. After an unplanned detour around Goring for some (I misread Google Maps) we got a dusk train home, armed with vegetarian, gluten-free snacks (red wine, chocolate and pistachio nuts). We feared that when the train stopped at Hove we might be inundated with Pride revellers from Brighton. But in fact the only loud revellers on the train the whole way back to London was ourselves.

Did I mention, by the way, that is was somewhat on the warm side today?

Intend going...

About 20 on the walk with some initial concern that the path alongside the River Arun might be shut. However despite the notices, there were no issues and we all continued across the railway to Angmering Park the forecast rain arrived before lunch and persisted for the remainder of the walk

The Woodman Arms looked after us well despite changing hands the following day. (No crisps or nuts to ease the changeover). It appears the bar staff will remain, but there'll be a different crew in the kitchen but serving a similar menu.

Some braved the rain to visit Highdown Gardens before meeting up at the nearby tearooms with it's large selection of cakes. One group set off to catch the 5:04 train back to the metropoles from Goring by Sea and was joined by party goers celebrating a 70th Birthday party nearby.

I slightly damp, but nevertheless enjoyable day out.

A lovely walk it was a shame about the rain arriving a few hours earlier than forecast.

Highdown Gardens is a hidden treasure which I think would be better appreciated in the late summer or autumn when in full bloom, and hopefully no rain.

The RMT have announced more rail strikes on Fri 1 Sep and Mon 4 Sep, no doubt hoping to mess up weekend services as well. I'll keep an eye on Southern's plans but if it looks like there will be disruption on Saturday I'll drop this new walk and substitute something else.

Southern say that they plan to operate a full service on most of their routes on the strike days, so there's no reason to suppose that the weekend service will be affected (any more than usual, that is). This is not a long walk and even if you end up starting a bit late there'll be no problem getting to the lunch and tea places in time.

Hi Sean,

Thank you for planning the walk, it looks lovely.

Am planning to buy my ticket tomorrow (avoiding the horrendous queues of last week). If you are going to change the walk please can you let me know by midday? Thank you.

See you on Saturday, Sarah

am going to do this walk will be coming from Worthing to Arundel my train gets in a bit before the London train so will wait outside the station.

On this late Summer day with all day sun and a light breeze , 15 or so set off to give this new walk it's debut. Initially along the River Arun before turning east to join the Monarch's way. Varied scenery with a grassland valley and the woodland of Angmering Park. Lunch at the Woodman Arms turned out to be a real treat with good food and friendly attentive staff. The afternoon section continued though more quintessential English countryside to the village of Patching with it's Church and thatched dwellings. Then south to Highdown Tower where there was brief section of road noise as the walk slipped under the A27 and briefly alongside it. The vista from Highdown Tower was superb with the English Channel and recently constructed Wind Farms ahead and the town of Worthing nestling on the coast to the left.

Highdown Gardens was a real treat with many lawned areas and a stunning array of trees, shrubs and flowers.

Tea at Highdown cafe was another treat with a good selection of yummy cakes, a wedding party passed by to their reception at the Hotel there as we supped tea.

Some of us headed off to catch the 5:04 fast train back to London after a thoroughly enjoyable walk on a glorious day

Two continued on to Angmering past the atmospheric iron age fort on top of Highdowns Hill and further research stops in the two pubs along the way. I cannot agree more with Mike: A charming walk with superb lunch pub and tea shop and a gem of a garden. I look forward to revisiting Highdowns Gardens in spring/early summer.