The rain of the recent days stopped shortly after dawn and blue skies
followed, so Bertie and I set off for a stroll around the South Downs above
Amberley.
We parked the van at the top of High Titten beside the road looking down over
the flood plain of Amberley Brooks below.
The South Downs Way (SDW) continued from the junction and up the steep step to
come out above the farm. I had decided to return along the ridge so set off
around the hills on a farm track.
The farm track converted into a muddy green lane, before dropping down into the
valley in a large hairpin bend.
The look back to the valley as it broke around to the left.
We (on the other hand) climbed up the other side on a field track, re-gaining a
lot of the height we had just lost. At the top we took the southernmost at a
track cross roads looking over towards Littlehampton.
We were now on the chalk tracks meandering along the foothills of the downs
heading East between the fields.
Looking up to the Downs
Still going East, approaching Lee Farm, the track slightly better here (part of
Angmering estates).
Just beyond the farm we turned north in front of the chalk pit, climbing
gradually up towards the top of the downs.
Looking up to the ridge of the Downs
The last section up to the ridge and the car park of Chantry Post.
Meeting the SDW at the car park, with the gliders from the Storrington club
crossing regularly above.
Leaving the car park and heading West along the SDW
Passing one of the dew ponds, Bertie stopped off for a swim, before we left the
SDW to go up towards the top of Kithurst Hill (The SDW bypasses the top of the
ridge here)
Looking over the edge of the Downs towards Storrington.
The trig point on the top of Kithurst Hill where the wind gusted into our faces
and then on the path down to the NT car park.
The flood plain below and focused in on Pulborough Brooks beyond.
We rejoined the SDW as we continued past Kithurst car park and up to Springhead
Hill
Still on the SDW up to Rackham hill (whose trig point is fenced off in the field
next to the path). Then the descent looking over to the Downs beyond Whiteways.
The wind was getting quite fierce here - not cold, but blustery.
lookign down to Amberley Brooks flooded below.
Continuing to drop down along the SDW, looking across to the Castle at Amberley
(now a hotel)
The last section to meet the point where we parted on the outbound leg, and down
to the final step to the road. the van was waiting for us on the roadside,
warming nicely in the sunshine, and out of the wind.
