Stage 5 OS Map of SDW Stage 6 Stage 7
UPPER BEEDING to WASHINGTON Stage 6 (26th April 2013)
Train delays due to a signal box fire meant that we got to the start of this section at 13.10. The 2A bus from Shoreham by Sea dropped us off just past a layby on the A283 from which the South Downs Way leaves, past a handy drinking water tap. The path crosses a foot-bridge over the Adur river then veers away from the river along a road, passing close to the tiny village of Botolphs with a picture postcard flint saxon church with squat square tower and nearby half-timbered country house.
Where the road turns right take a driveway to the left and then, just before a house, turn right through a gateway to climb past a huge field with hundreds of pig arks (and the inevitable smell) onto Annington Hill. The path goes right when a road is reached but note that the path remains within the field, you do not need to risk walking in the road. An added benefit of the path in the field is a bench positioned to enjoy the view over Steyning Bowl.
The weather was clear, though cold, and there were vast views beyond the Bowl across the Weald. Shortly, where the road veers away to the right the path continues straight on, rising towards a trig point with a wood to the North (still bare of leaves in this very delayed spring, few flowers, plenty of skylarks and a few swallows). The rise is topped by Chanctonbury Ring, a wooded copse within a small iron-age hillfort, where fallen tree trunks provide good seats to make the most of this prehistorical place, full of primroses and violets amongst the grass.
The path continues more or less on the level, past a restored dew pond and turning right off a track, shortly descending towards the busy A24. At lower levels the path had plenty of spring flowers, masses of cowslips, wild garlic, a few opening bluebells and a solitary Peacock butterfly battling the breeze.
Just before reaching the busy road you have to decide whether to risk crossing or take the alternative South Downs Way into the village of Washington. As we planned to stay overnight we took the latter option, turning right along a pavement-less B road (although there is a separate path running parallel to this, not signed as the route). The alternative SDW route turns left off this road at The Street but we continued on to a pub, the Frankland Arms, for tea and cake.
There are two B&Bs in Washington but we weren't able to stay at either, instead taking a taxi to the White Horse Hotel, a pub in nearby Storrington, where we had dinner and stayed overnight. (The taxi was not necessary as we found out there is a pretty good bus service between the villages).
Total distance walked 12.8km 8.0m ascent 923m walking time 3h 30m Running total 49.8 miles
The South Downs Way is one of the official UK National Trails, running from Eastbourne to Winchester, follows old routes and droveways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs National Park . The total length is just over 160 kilometres ( 100 miles). It is the only National Trail which is a bridleway (walkers sharing the path with horses and cyclists) along its whole length.
You can download this route to your GPS or mobile phone by clicking on the 'View route..' link on the map below (provided you have registered (free) with ViewRanger
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Rain clouds over Truleigh Hill
Steyning Bowl
Looking towards Chanctonbury Ring