Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Amberley Walk on 5th November 2025

John had planned a 4 mile walk and warned us that the recent rain may make a couple of sections of the walk a bit muddy.  Gathering in the car park of The Bridge Inn, a small number wore wellington boots and the majority were in walking boots.  Setting off in the dry, balmy but overcast weather we crossed the old bridge at Houghton, pausing briefly to watch the fast incoming tide of the River Arun, and through the gate into a field to walk the path on the west bank.  When we reached the first stile, it was wet underfoot with the river lapping at the banks.  On reaching the second stile, the bottom step was underwater necessitating large steps to stay dry.  The path had boardwalks that kept us dry, although they were a bit slippery.  We reached a point where the boardwalk was broken and floated away but the water level was too high to continue.  We decided retreat was the better part of valour, but then discovered that the tide was still rising and our retreat path was substantially now under water.  It did not take long to realise that those of us in walking boots had no option but to wade and get wet feet.  Regrouping once we had gained higher ground, some returned to the Inn to clean up and dry out while a revised higher and shorter walk was planned and walked to all meet up again at the Bridge Inn, where we celebrated an eventful walk with an excellent lunch.

Full of enthusiasm at the start

River Arun ignoring its banks

A slightly wet stile on the outward journey, little did we know…

Leading us towards our water world encounter

River Arun starting to flood

Luckily the boardwalks were there

A bit slippery but at least we stayed dry

A leap too far for us, time to retreat!

Realisation that we will cannot stay dry anymore

Wading on the return path that was dry minutes previously.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way to stay dry

Planning and debating our new route

Heading for the high ground

We thought this was a miss spelling, but it is Middle English for Anvil

Back on the march again

River Arun and wild teasels

Crossing the Arun in the dry.

Our late coffee stop that could almost have been a pre lunch aperitif

Coffee stop

South Downs Way bridge over the Arun

Our very welcome final destination

The actual 2.5 mile route

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