The walk started on the Monach's Way footpath at the
rear of the car park. (a small gap in the hedge gives access to the
path.). Turn right and follow the bridleway until it joins the B2139 near the
George & Dragon public house at Houghton. (we had lunch there just
before Christmas and it was superb.)
(photo: The George & Dragon. A plaque above the pub door
is shown at bottom left of the photo)
Pass (if you must!) the George & Dragon and
follow the road until the River Arun. Care is needed as there is no
footpath along the road. At the river, join the footpath on the left side of the
road and follow the river bank to a footbridge crossing the river.
The South Downs Way is joined at this foot bridge.
(Photo: River Arun passing under the B2139 at Amberly.)
Leave the river bank, as it branches right after the
crossing, and pass through a gate onto a track alongside the field. The path
leads west, right for a few yards along the hedge, then through
a gate to join Houghton Lane.
(photo: looking south across to Houghton.)
Cross the lane and follow the track up the chalk down
as it winds up passing to the left of Coombe Wood to join the A29 road.
(photos: Left, the
A29 runs along the top of the hills.)
(photo: View east to the South Downs above Amberly.)
(photo: Small village of Bury on the River Arun.)
Turn right at the A29, and after a few yards cross to
rejoin the South Downs Way. Continue along the South Downs Way at the
first footpath cross-roads (fingerpost) arriving at a cow pen at the foot
of Westburton Hill. (it's very muddy when wet!)
(photo: Muddy
cow pen area ... walkers can be seen passing through the mud.)
From here follow the
path up hill to the top of Bignor Hill.
(photo: Bignor Hill in the distance.)
A short walk from Bignor Hill leads to a small
car park. (a convenient place for a coffee.) From the car park, head west on the South Downs
Way, avoiding the path that leads to the right of the radio masts.
(photo: Roman sign post at Bignor Hill car park)
Passing to the right of Sutton Down, the path follows woodland on the right
to Littleton End, before descending to Littleton Farm on the A258 road.
(The descent is a little steep,
and if wet, rather slippery.)
(photo: South Downs Way stretches eastwards from Bignor Hill)
At the A258, turn left, and continue on to
Upwaltham.
Not longer after the village sign, a path leads off left and skirts around
the back of Upwaltham Farm.
(photo: Upwaltham Church)
Pass through a gate, then left following
the track uphill, passing through a second gate after about 100 yards.
(photo: The church from further up the hill)
After a short while, the track levels out at the top of
Upwaltham Hill, then passes through a wooded area for a couple of hundred
yards. At the footpath junction in the wood, take the path due east,
arriving at a clearing to the right of Sutton Down.
(photo: Muddy track through the wood.)
The path eventually passes through a small Copse close
to, and southwest of, Bignor Hill car park. Continue with the Copse to the
left and open fields to the right. Turn right at the end of the track,
close to the Neolithic Camp, where the path tracks the wooded area on the
right. The path descends slowly as it enters Houghton Forest.
(photo: The way ahead after the woods.)
There are many tracks in the wood so care is required picking the right turning. (I missed it!). The footpath is signposted left and continues southeast through the wood, first dropping, then rising to a clearing north of the Houghton Wood car parking facilities. Cross the clearing, over the A29, and follow the footpath (Monach's Way) across the field. The path continues alongside the B2139, to reach the opening to the car park.