Our journey on the South Downs Way continues from Slindon Estate to Amberley. The route covers a distance of 8 km, most of it downhill to the River Arun.
Follow the entire walk on 
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Waypoints
A: Slindon Estate
B: Fork left for the South Downs Way
C: Bignor Hill car park
D: Bignor Hill and Toby Stone
E: Aerial view near Westburton Hill
F: Cross the A29
G: View Ambeley in the valley of River Arun
H: Metal footbridge
I: Bridge over railway
J: Entering the village of Amberley
We ended our last video and blog at the gate to the Slindon Estate. We begin this journey with an aerial view of the Slindon Estate [A]. Enter the gate and follow the South Downs Way across the pasture, downhill beside a fence on the right and a row of trees silhouetted against the sky straight ahead. Looking back, you can see Gratting Brecon similarly silhouetted against the sky, rising amidst a clump of trees.
Past out of the pasture through the gate in about a kilometre and continue until you reach a fork in the road [B]. South Downs Way heads left, leading to the Bignor Hill car park [C] in a few hundred metres.
Follow the slope up to Bignor Hill to a height of 225 metres. From this vantage point [D], you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. Next to this is Toby Stone, a horseman’s mounting block that “marks the remains and memorial to Toby Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, the secretary of the Cowdray Hounds”.
As you come down Bignor, the path bears slightly right and turns sharply left. It continues downhill until you reach zinc-walled storehouses for hay. Follow the South Downs Way right and up the side of Westburton Hill. To the right is a rapeseed farm. Had our walk been a few weeks later, the bright yellow view would have been spectacular. Still, the aerial view [E] of the terrain is breathtaking.
The South Downs Way continues straight ahead, making its way very gently uphill until reaching the crest in 500 metres. Looking down from there, you can see the A29 passing ahead. Make your way down, and as you near the road, turn right to the crossing point [F] where South Downs Way continues on the other side .
For 500 metres, you have Coombs Wood on the left of the South Downs Way. Then slow down as the view opens to the breathtaking sight [G] of River Arun River’s valley with Amberley and Bury to the left and Houghton on the right. Follow the path downhill, passing Houghton Lane and zigzagging down to the river.
Continue walking by the river bank for a short distance eastward and then cross the metal bridge [H]. Walk on the other bank and follow the signs for South Downs Way, which takes you to a track. Walk over the bridge crossing the rail track. When you reach New Barn Road, turn left, and the picturesque town of Amberley [J] is half a kilometre on the left.
Amberley off the South Downs Way. Because of its charm and beauty, many walkers reward themselves after a long day’s work by spending the night here. And so did we!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this part of the walk! Join us for the following video, where we’ll continue our journey along the South Downs Way from Amberley.
* South Downs Way: Buriton To Steyning
This video is the second in a series of a walk along the South Downs Way, covering a distance of 57 km over three days from Buriton to Steyning. Please check the blog and accompanying highlight video .