Overcast with sunny periods forecast, so after dropping Sue off at Brinsbury
for her volunteering session, Bertie and I headed down to Arundel. I had
planned a walk starting at the castle car park and heading out West along the
A27 until reaching the outskirts of Binstead. There turning south to reach
Yapton, before returning East to Ford, and from there back along the rover
Arun to Arundel.
We were early enough to have our pick of slots in the car park and paid for four
hours, and set off along the river after a visit to the facilities. The initial
stages were through the town, but there was no direct route along the river and
we had to wind through the back streets.
At the A27 roundabout, we took a path behind the hospital climbing slightly
through the waterwoods
Out of the woods to park Farm through some horse fields. At the farm we turned
down the drive and back to the A27.
Across the A27 and into Stewards Copse leaving it at Binstead lane.
Into Binstead Wood following a bridleway (initially very wide and large mud
patches, but then narrowing and becoming more solid). This section was all
enclosed with limited view.
Through the woods crossing several crossroads until we took one going south that
opened out into a sweet corn stubble field. The path went around the outside of
the field.
At a crossroads of paths outside the hamlet of Binstead we found this way
marker. The green man and pond dragons.
We continued south passing some greenhouses coming out onto a back road. At
Oakley Cottages we cut into a field with some horses that followed us until we
left.
Escaping onto a farm track we followed it past Marsh farm into the field beyond.
At a zigzag there was a tied up gate, initially reluctant to go through it we
tried the neighbouring field but could not cross and had to come back.
A bridge hidden inthe undergrowth was the way out of the field and led to a rail
crossing.
Then down a farm track down to Ford lane. On the other side we crossed a
ploughed field with a turn in the middle. This led into a "just harvested" sweet
corn field that emerged into Yapton.
In Yapton we followed a road along the outskirts until we could cross into the
recreation field, where, with a sharp turn, we escaped back into the fields.
Once again harvested sweet corn fields gave way to a ploughed on where we picked
up the trace of an old canal curving around to Ford Airfield industrial
Estate.
A final sweet corn field up to the boundary of the airfield, then down an access
road curving to the village of Ford.
Across a back road and down the driveway to an isolated church. The path here
led around the church grounds and along to a marina on the river edge.
Past the marina and its slipway to reach the rail bridge, where we passed under
it.
Beyond the bridge the river serpents around still heading to the town of
Arundel.
We followed the bank of the river as it twisted and turned getting closer to the
town.
At the edge of the town the river straightened under the A27
Into the town under the A27, then back along the tortuous route back to the car park (with added twists as one road was closed due to works). In the car park (now much fuller) and at the car we left for home once again.
