Arundel to South Stoke along the river Arun, and back into Arundel via Offham.
This is a loop walk which is flat apart from a single steep narrow path circa 150m long. There are a number of stiles along the route.
Estimated walking time is 2 hours.
Fabulous views of the river Arun, the South Downs and Arundel Castle.
Suitable for walking, running and MTB cycling, dog walking.
Not suitable for pushchairs.
Chance of cows.
5-10k
Start point
Start - in Mill Road car park next to the Museum and opposite the main entrance to the Castle
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Getting onto the riverbank footpath
Turn left onto the riverbank footpath at the back of the main carpark next to the entrance to the Waterside Cafe
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Head out of town along the river bank
Keep to the left, pass the gated slipway on the right and go through the pedestrian gate heading out of town
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Keep the main river on your right
Keep walking along the river bank. There is an option to turn left along a millstream but keep going straight through the wooden gate and keep the main river on your right.
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Arrive at Black Rabbit pub carpark
Continue until the river bank ends at the Black Rabbit car park. (Black Rabbit serves food, drink and has toilets and indoor and outdoor seating)
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Walk to end of Black Rabbit car park and back onto the river bank footpath
Walk in front of the Black Rabbit pub past the terrace and straight ahead to the very end of the car park. At the end pass through the gap and onto the path through the trees back to the river bank.
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Continue along river to bridge at Offham
Continue along the river bank until arriving at a bridge with two stiles at Offham. Cross both stiles and continue along the bank towards South Stoke (NB: the bridge takes you onto an island and there is no other way on or off the island)
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Continue along the river to bridge at South Stoke
With South Stoke ahead and the South Downs in the distance the river bank curves around to the left. There can be cows in this field at times. At South Stoke there is another bridge. Cross the stile to the left of the bridge and turn left on to the track and away from the river.
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Walk through South Stoke village and take the footpath opposite the red brick barn
Follow the track until it becomes a road with St.Leonard's Church and the cottages on your left. When you get to the red brick barn with arches take the left onto the public footpath
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Follow the footpath across the fields and up the path back to Offham
Continue through the fields on the public footpath until the path narrows and inclines past the Foxes Oven cottage. This is a steep climb on a narrow path which lasts about 150m. There is growth on each side which could be harder to pass in the height of summer.
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Turn onto the road and through Offham
At the end of the narrow path turn left onto the road and then after about 75m turn right .
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Walk along Mill Road towards the hump back bridge
Continue along the road past the Black Rabbit pub on your left, the Arundel Wetlands centre on your left and Swanbourne Lake on your right. There is a cafe and public toilets at the entrance to Swanbourne Lake. There is an optional additional loop walk around the lake of 1.5km (just under a mile)
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Hump back bridge to end of walk
Head over the hump back bridge and along Mill Road back to the carpark where the walk ends Just before the end of the walk you will pass the childrens playground and Mill Road putting green and cafe. There are public toilets in the car park at the end of the walk.
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