Amberley to Pulborough - lofty south downs views, roman mosaics, ancient paths

HIGHLIGHTS

• Steep chalky tracks high up onto Bignor Hill out of the scenic Arun Valley
• Magnificent views along the ridge, out to sea and across the West Weald.
• Stunning remains of a Roman home with world-class mosaic floors on Bignor Hill
• Late summer woods, rivers and open fields
• Stopham bridge built in 1423 alongside a historic pub

WHAT TO EXPECT - HIKING INFO
Distance: 19-20km (c.12.5 miles)
Ascent: c.350 metres
Estimated Duration (approx): 6 hours walking
Difficulty: Moderate

DESCRIPTION
Come and join me for a Roman adventure in the foothills of the South Downs.

We leave Amberley station and follow the South Downs way out of the scenic Arun Valley. In Roman times the Arun was called the Trisantonis 'the trespasser', as the river has a tendancy to flood the planes.

We will walk up steep chalky hills up to Bignor Hills with magnificent views along the way – on a good day, we will be able to see the sea and up to London.

We will be making an hour’s stop a the Bignor Roman villa - www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk - £12.50 entrance fee - as a combined lunch stop and tour of a large Roman courtyard villa. It is well known for its mosaic floors, some of the most complete and artistic in the country.

We then continue on country paths past Bignor Park on forest paths. We will come across an old seven-arched ironstone Stopham Bridge which was built in 1423, as well as Stopham vineyard on our way back to the station in Pulborough.

ps. My walks make time to enjoy the views, take in local history, and look at interesting buildings along the way.

PROGRAMME
You can choose to meet at London Victoria or the Hike Starting Point. The applicable time and meeting points are detailed below.

LONDON STATION MEETING DETAILS
Group save assemble time: 08.25
Assembly Time for those with their own tickets: 08.40
Move to the departure platform at 08:45
TRAIN DEPARTS AT 09.05
The train arrives at 10.28

Meeting Point: London Victoria. We will assemble in front Neals Yard Remedies/ Nero coffee stand.

HIKE START POINT
Time: 10.30 am
Meetup Point: Amberley Train Station - outside the front

Return
It is impossible to promise a specified finish train and time, but we aim to return to London by 19.17 or 19.45. Trains depart from Pulborough for London at 17.54 or 18.24.

Tickets
For those buying their own tickets, please get a return to Amberley.

HIKE COST
The cost for the hike is £10 per person

GROUP SAVE
If you want to be part of a group save option, please arrive at the meeting point no later than 08.25am (meetup's reporting system is malfunctioning, so I cannot offer the 'train & hike option' price for this hike).

Group save train fare is currently £21.95 - if you want to join into the group save, please message me so we can make arrangements.

HIKE INCLUDES

• Guided Hike planned and led by experienced AAA leaders - trained Lowland and Mountain Leaders with Wilderness First Aid Training.
• PayPal fees

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Travel costs, unless this option is selected.
• Lunch, drinks or any refreshments
• Souvenirs
• Meetup Fee levied on all purchases via meetup
• Entrance fees to any attractions you wish to visit

RECOMMENDED KIT LIST (full list)

• Suitable hiking shoes or boots
• Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!)
• Water [2L recommended]
• Warm/Windproof layer, e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece
• Wicking base layer, e.g. Polyester/Tencil/Merino
• Camera & Phone
• Picnic lunch and snacks

CANCELLING/REFUNDS
Please update your RSVP to say ‘No’ if your plans change. Then, others can take advantage of the newly available place.
If the hike is full, please email info@aaalondongroup.com after the event and request a refund, less the PayPal/Meetup fees. You must provide your email for the PayPal account and transaction reference.

QUESTIONS
If you have any other questions, please check out our FAQ page; if you are still unsure, contact the event organiser as shown on this event page.
We have operated over 1,000 events in the last ten years without significant incidents and achieved this through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety, and welfare and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions.
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