# Holiday 2 - Our Weekend Away in the South Downs

In February 2013 members of the Berkshire Weekend Walkers and the Berkshire Walkers 20s & 30s group went for a winter walking holiday on the South Downs - Britain's newest National Park. Steph (of the BWWs) and Ruth (of the BWs 20s & 30s) drummed up enough enthusiasm to get eight of us together to go an organised walking weekend with HF Holidays at Abingworth Hall in West Sussex. HF provided accommodation for three nights and two days of led walks. To make the most of the trip, we extended the holiday to a long weekend with Ruth leading short walks on Friday and Monday.

Friday 15th February - Pulborough, Broomers Hill and Nutbourne

Friday we met up in Pulborough in West Sussex at around 11am. After officially starting our holiday with a visit to the Tea Room on the high street, we set off on a five mile walk. Originally Ruth had planned to walk through Pulborough Brooks to the bird sanctuary but it was obvious even from a distance that this walk would involve a lot of paddling, so an alternative route on higher ground was taken. The first uphill leg of the walk rewarded us with views to the south, looking down on farmland, a plant nursery and the water-logged brooks. Further along the Broomers Hill ridge we also got views to the north, and we reckoned we could make out the North Downs on the horizon.

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/pulborough_brooks.jpg)

After a picnic lunch stop, we descended in to the hamlet of Nutbourne where we stopped at the Rising Sun for a drink. This pub was ideal for us as it had bare wooden floors without carpet, which meant we didn't need to take off our boots before coming inside, and it had some good real-ales on tap. One of the other customers took an interest in our walk and gave advice on our return route. Refreshed, we left the pub to continue our walk.

Initially retracing our steps to leave Nutbourne, we then took a route through farmland into a hamlet called Marehill. This took us down to the main road back into Pulborough, finishing our walk with plenty of time to get to Abingworth Hall to check in and partake in afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea was followed by introductions to the hotel staff, the walk leaders and the other holidaymakers. A splendid three course evening meal was followed by entertainments provided by the walk leaders, which included a number of different types of quiz. This helped break the ice between us and the other residents.

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/north_downs.jpg)

Saturday 16th February - Amberley to Arundel via South Downs & Monarch's Way

After a hearty breakfast on Saturday we were taken by coach to the village of Amberley, where we started our ascent onto the South Downs way. This was not the official start point for this walk as the leader had recce'd the route and found the low-lying first section to be far too wet and boggy.

Initially we headed east along the South Downs Way, past Rackham Hill. This gave us views of Amberley Village, Amberley Wild Brooks, Parham House and its deer park.

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/barpham_hill.jpg)

We left the South Downs Way at Springhead Hill and headed south, through farmland and rolling countryside, to join the Monarch's Way at Angmering Park. On our way a stag and some deer crossed our path and disappeared into woodland.

We followed the Monarch's Way into Arundel. We managed to find a tea shop that had tables outside – we weren't clean enough to go inside. Refreshed, we continued to explore Arundel until the coach came to take us back to Abingworth Hall for another three-course meal and evening of quizzical entertainment.

Sunday 17th February - Findon to Steyning via two Hill Forts

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/arundel.jpg)

Sunday started off quite foggy but amazingly it cleared completely, just as the coach dropped us off in a layby on the A24 just north of Findon. The first half of this walk was a big loop around Findon, crossing many contour lines, with a stop to explore Cissbury Ring hill fort en-route. This Iron Age hill fort is one of the largest in Britain, covering some 60 acres.

After the loop had nearly brought us back to where we'd started, the route took a sharp right and took us up onto the South Downs Way. Shortly after that we stopped to admire the somewhat smaller Chactonbury Ring hill fort.

From there we continued on the South Downs Way for a while before departing to follow the mostly woodland path to Steyning. This interesting town has existed from Anglo-Saxon times and contains a wide variety of architectural styles. After a short exploration of the town, our thoughts turned to refreshment and we managed to find a tea shop that would accept us in our somewhat muddied state, where we stayed until the coach arrived to collect us.

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/abingworth_garden.jpg)

The third night at Abingworth Hall was much like the second, with excellent food, fine wine, local beer and old-fashioned entertainment.

Monday 18th February - Climping and Littlehampton

On Monday morning we checked out of Abingworth Hall and split up – some of us going with Ruth for her short walk from Climping, taking in the coastal nature reserve between Littlehampton and Bognor, while others went off to do their own exploring.

![Click to englarge](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume0/images/cissbury_ring.jpg)