Walks in Arundel

Walking in ArundelDiscover another way to visit the South Downs National Park. Go to www.traveline.co.uk or call 0871 200 22 33 to find public transport information. For train timetables, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950.

South Downs National ParkThe South Downs National Park is Britain’s newest National Park, rich in landscape, culture and wildlife. Discover ancient woodland and enjoy spectacular views as you explore the open downs and heathlands. Within these landscapes lie bustling market towns and peaceful rural villages, historic houses and the remains of ancient settlements.

Discover ArundelLook out for these historic and interesting sights while you’re exploring Arundel.

Swanbourne Lake started life as a millpond, with records going back to the Doomsday survey in the 11th century. In the late 18th century, during work to Arundel Park, the pond was enlarged to form the lake.

The lake is fed mainly by groundwater springs known as the ‘Blue Springs’ due to the colour of the water as it comes out of the ground. The lake was once prone to drying out, and on one such occasion in 1989 the remains of a German Second World War bomber plane were discovered, along with four unexploded bombs!

Work has been carried out in recent years to prevent the lake from drying out, and to preserve this important wildlife site which is now renowned for its outstanding natural beauty.

Swanbourne Lodge tea room and boat hire is at the entrance to the lake at Mill Lane. Built in the 19th century for a visit by Queen Victoria, it is now used as a tea room. It also hires out rowing boats between March and October.

Mill Road was built by the 15th Duke of Norfolk in 1892 and lime trees were planted to create an avenue from the town to Swanbourne Lake.

Water voles are small furry mammals which were made famous by the character ‘Ratty’ in Wind in the Willows. If you’re walking along Mill Road in the Spring or Summer, look out for them living in the banks of the castle moat. You might even hear them as they ‘plop’ back into the water. These creatures are increasingly rare due to habitat loss and predators such as mink. The ones on Mill Road are descendents of water voles that were reintroduced at Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Arundel Wetland Centre in 2005.

The River Arun runs for approximately 25 miles (41km) from its source near St Leonards Forest

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Leave your car at home, take the train

through Horsham and Arundel before flowing into the English Channel at Littlehampton. Throughout the centuries, the fast flowing Arun has provided a livelihood for the people of the town. Eels, pike, bass and grey mullet were all found in the river. The grey mullet in particular was praised for its flavour and Arundel was renowned for its banquets where the fish was served. As a result, people born in Arundel are known locally as Mullets!

The Port was a key feature of Arundel for hundreds of years. The town exported cattle, timber, corn, wool and lime, and imported a range of goods including coal, wine, brandy and glass. The port declined from the 1840s onwards as Littlehampton developed as the premier port of the Arun.

Arundel Castle, the family home of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors, was originally built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel and one of William the Conqueror’s most loyal barons. Extensively rebuilt between the 1870s and 1890s, it is in the Gothic style and is considered to be one of the great works of Victorian England. www.arundelcastle.org

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard was built in 1870-73 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk. For over 100 years Arundel Cathedral has celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi with a festival of flowers held six weeks after Easter. www.arundelcathedral.org

St Nicholas is a beautiful 14th century Anglican parish church which can be accessed via London Road. Within the same building, separated by an iron grille and glass screen, is the chancel. This is the Roman Catholic Fitzalan chapel which can only be accessed from the castle. It houses the tombs of numerous earls of Arundel and dukes of Norfolk. www.stnicholasarundel.co.uk

Details correct at time of going to print. Please be aware that routes are shared with other users (vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, horses etc) and users of the SDNPA Walk and Ride Leaflet Series do so at their own risk. We do not accept any responsibility for loss, damage or injury, however caused, arising directly or indirectly from use of this leaflet. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013.

Contact usSouth Downs National Park Authority

Tel: 0300 303 1053 Web: www.southdowns.gov.uk

Twitter: @SDNPA Facebook: SDNPA

Please follow the Countryside Code: Leave gates as you find them and keep dogs under close control or on a lead.

Where in the South Downs National Park:

Arundel

Start/Finish

A284

A284

A27

A27

A27

A27

ArundelPark

BlackfriarsArundel Museum

Swanbournefootbridge

Arundel

Offham

Arundel

ArundelCastle

WWTArundel WetlandCentre

River Arun

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Mill Road

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Queen Street

TheCauseway

Great days outThere are plenty of things to see and do in the area. Here are just a few ideas:

Arundel Open Air Heated lido

Open-air swimming with views of the castle. www.arundel-lido.com

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre

A haven for wildlife. You can even go on a boat safari through the reed beds! www.wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel

Arundel Farmers Market

Pick up local produce on the 3rd Saturday of every month. www.arundel.org.uk

Arundel Food Festival

A range of foodie events and activities to tickle your taste buds. Held in October each year. www.arundel.org.uk

Arundel Festival in August

A 10-day long celebration of visual arts, music and drama.www.arundelfestival.co.uk

There are also plenty of sporting activities to keep you entertained – from Arundel Cricket Club to boat trips on the river.

Route Instructions Turn left out of the front of the train station

and cross over the road at the pedestrian crossing. Proceed into Arundel.

Cross Town Bridge which takes you over the River Arun and turn right onto Mill Road.

Continue straight along Mill Road, passing Blackfriars (the remains of a Dominican Priory) on your right and the new Arundel Museum. On the opposite side of the road is the entrance to Arundel Castle. On this side of the road, running between the castle and Mill Road, is the old castle moat – look out for water voles which now thrive here.

When the Mill Road footway runs out by the entrance to the old dairy (now a private residence), carefully cross over the road and cross the Millstream using Swanbourne footbridge.

Cross the footbridge and head down the steps then back up to rejoin the road. For a short distance there is no footpath (between the bridge and the Swanbourne Lodge tea rooms at the entrance to Swanbourne Lake), but the road is wide and visibility is good. If you’d like to visit the Arundel and Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust reserve, continue along Mill Road for an additional 200 metres (take extra care when walking along the road). For those wishing to explore Swanbourne Lake, follow the footpath around the lake which brings you out close to the Swanbourne footbridge (additional 2km).

From here, either finish your walk by heading back along Mill Road into Arundel, or extend the walk and enjoy the views and scenery along the River Arun. To take the river route, walk down the steps from the road to Swanbourne footbridge and take the footpath on your left immediately before the bridge. This footpath runs alongside the Millstream up to where it meets the River Arun.

Turn right and follow the footpath beside the River Arun back into Arundel.

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Arundel

Distance: 3miles/4km

Time: Station to Swanbourne Lake, returning via Mill Road – 1 hour 30minsStation to Swanbourne Lake, returning via the river – 2 hours Swanbourne Lake circuit – 30 minutes

Alternative routes: Station to Swanbourne Lake, returning via Mill Road – 2.5kmStation to Swanbourne lake, returning via the river – 5kmSwanbourne Lake circuit – 2km

Train: Regular services to Arundel Station (from Bognor Regis or London)

Access: Generally flat. Some areas near the lake and river can be muddy after heavy rain

Key:

Public house

Incline

Putting green

View

Tea rooms Walk Footpath Bridleway

0.5miles0.5km