Walking Britain South Downs Walk
Bignor Hill and The Denture from Amberley
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Walk Route Description
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This South Downs walk includes parts of both the South Downs Way and the Monarch's Way. The route includes a mixture of fields, woodland, a few hills up and down. After wet weather the paths can be quite muddy. Care is also needed crossing a busy main road. Route finding is generally easy.
The start and finish point is Amberley station. After crossing the main road and going left under the railway bridge, the first turning on the right leads over a wooden stile to the River Arun. Cross the footbridge over the river on the left and then follow the waymarked signs for the South Downs Way. Once the path gains some height, there is a view looking back towards the River Arun and the footbridge and a stretch of the South Downs ridge to the east of Amberley. After crossing the busy A29 there are no more roads to cross for a few miles as the route heads north-west between fields.
The next dip marks a crossroads of paths near to Westburton Hill and then the next stretch is quite steep going up south west before turning north-west on the way towards Bignor Hill with its two radio stations. Looking back, you can see the path you have just come along across the valley to the east. The path does not go to the top of Bignor Hill but skirts round to the left of it and leads to a car park.
Turn left here off the South Downs Way and head the short distance south to meet the Monarch's Way. Turn left onto this long distance path and continue through woodland along "The Denture" and through Houghton Forest. Once the path crosses the main road (A29) it crosses alongside a field with a view overlooking Amberley. Rather than walk along the road turn left in Houghton (grid ref. TQ018115) and walk north to rejoin the South Downs Way used earlier. A footpath to the right leads back to the bridge over the river and then back to Amberley railway station.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1917 Rackham Hill from Amberley - easy/mod - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 1615 Amberley circular via East Dean - mod/hard - 21.0 miles/34.1 km
Walk 1466 Amberley circular via Arundel - moderate - 13.0 miles/21.1 km
Walk 1629 The River Arun & South Stoke from Amberley - easy - 4.6 miles/7.5 km
Walk 3305 Amberley Mount and Wepham Down from Burpham - easy/mod - 8.0 miles/13 km
Walk 1667 Blackpatch Hill & Harrow Hill from near Storrington - easy/mod - 7.2 miles/11.7 km
Walk 3464 Rackham Hill & Kithurst Hill Circular - easy/mod - 6.7 miles/10.9 km
Walk 3080 Arundel Park and the River Arun from Arundel - easy/mod - 7.2 miles/11.7 km
Walk 2835 Arundel to Amberley - easy - 6.2 miles/10.1 km
Walk 1423 The Midhurst Way - Arundel to Midhurst - mod/hard - 19.0 miles/30.9 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
The South Downs Way Map Booklet
Map of the 100 mile (160km) South Downs Way National Trail, between Eastbourne and Winchester. This booklet is included with the Cicerone guidebook to the trail and shows the full route on OS 1:25,000 maps. The trail typically takes a week to walk and is suitable for most levels of ability.
More information
Walks in the South Downs National Park
Guidebook with 40 circular walks throughout the South Downs National Park, exploring the beautiful chalk hills between Eastbourne and Winchester. The walks range from under 5 miles to 11 miles, including Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, Ditchling Beacon and hundreds of prehistoric sites. Accessible all year, but wild flowers best in spring.
More information
The End to End Trail
