Coldwaltham sits on a rise in the Weald above the flood plain of the River Arun as it swirls its fast-flowing course to the sea. You know you have arrived there when you see the distinctive stubby tower and spire of the village church at the side of the main road. On this longer walk by Eddie Start we visit the villages of Bury and Amberley, before embarking on a traverse of Amberley Wild Brooks, an interesting challenge after heavy rain.

1 Locate Brook Lane in Coldwaltham, 300 yards south-west of the village church on the A29. Take the downward residential road, finally leaving the built-up area.

As the road begins a slight left turn, just before a railway bridge, note the entrance to Waltham Brooks, a Sussex Wildlife Trust site, on the right. Enter the site and follow the track for 200 yards. Just before gates to a water treatment plant, turn left and then right, at the end of the fence.

Follow the fence and, where it finishes, begin a gradual diversion to the right into scrub, then over a plank bridge and stile. Continue along the left field edge, over two more stiles to clear the scrub and arrive at a three-way path junction close to Watersfield.

Turn left along the enclosed path to a residential road beside a white bungalow. Turn right for 200 yards to the main road.

2 Turn left up the road, following the pavement for a quarter of a mile to a sharp left turn. Cross with care and proceed along the opposite minor road. In 75 yards, at a crossroads, continue ahead and in 300 yards turn left, over a stile to a field – with fishing lakes on the right.

Walk to the end of the hedgeline, continuing over stiles and a plank bridge in the opposite hedgerow. Climb a short section of field to a rising meadow, with Hale Hill Farm ahead.

At the mid-point in the next field divert half-left, making for a sign and footbridge. Maintain direction to the stile in the opposite hedgerow, crossing to a track.

Turn left for a few yards and, where the track branches right to a house, continue ahead on the enclosed footpath. In 25 yards turn right, over a plank bridge, into woodland. In a further 25 yards go left for 150 yards, crossing into a field.

3 Turn right along the fence line for a few yards, then turn right up the next fence line.

In 200 yards, at a three-way junction, turn left over a stile, heading for hedgerow and a gully in 100 yards. Cross a plank bridge, maintaining direction to a crossing field track, with Southview Farm to the left. Descend the next field, dropping down a steep bank to cross a bridge. Turn left over the meadow, crossing a mid-field stile, to the far right corner beside a service road at the edge of Bury.

4 Turn right, passing Hillside Nursery, crossing a verge on the left to the main road. Noting the footpath signs, cross with care to the wooden gate opposite. Climb a path to cross a gravel drive, dropping to the street in Bury village.

Walk ahead to arrive beside a house called Prattendens on the right. At the end of a garden wall, turn right down a path for 50 yards. At a three-way path junction turn left into scrub, then along a right field-edge. At the right field corner, drop right through a hedgerow, turning right on a gully path to a school’s entrance drive.

Disregard path signs, other than those with a yellow arrow, turn left along the drive.

In 25 yards, turn half-right between the school buildings, passing a flint wall on the left, to a wall-crossing into the churchyard. In the grounds turn left, across the front of the church, to descend steps. Turn right beside a cottage, then left towards the riverbank.

Turn right, following the bank-top path to the prominent footbridge. Turn left over the bridge and at its far side turn left again to follow the eastern bank back to a point that is opposite Bury.

5 From the point on the eastern bank turn right, as signed, following the path across low-lying fields towards the railway line. Cross the pedestrian crossing and go on ahead, between scrubby hedgerow, with rising ground on the right, towards Amberley.

Keep to the path below the walls of Amberley Castle, leaving through a gate and taking the drive, which climbs quarter-right, up to the village.

Follow the village street ahead for 400 yards to a junction beside a bus shelter, with Amberley Tea Rooms opposite. Turn left up the street to a junction beside The Black Horse pub. Turn left for 150 yards to descend the signed public footpath on the right, beside The Thatched House, where the street bends left.

6 Descend the path to begin the traverse of Amberley Wild Brooks, a flood plain of the Arun, impassable in winter, or after heavy rain.

Follow the raised track north. After half a mile the path makes a short diversion right, then resumes its northward direction. Finally the path passes a plantation, crossing a marshy area to a footbridge. Cross a second bridge to climb along a left field-edge to a track junction. Turn left for 100 yards towards a prominent black farmhouse and when beside it, turn right. Climb a winding track for 250 yards, turning left past farm buildings.

At a right turn in the track, Quell Farmhouse entrance on the left, turn right on the track, descending to a minor road in just over a quarter of a mile.

Turn left along the road, crossing Greatham Bridge, with Waltham Brooks to the left. Keep to the road edge, crossing the railway bridge, back to our starting point.

  • DISTANCE/TIME: Nine and a half miles, taking four and a half hours.
  • BY CAR: A29 road from Pulborough (north) or Whiteways Lodge (south) to Coldwaltham. On-street car parking in Brook Lane. Start point grid ref: TQ022163
  • BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Details from www.traveline.info or call 0871 2002233.
  • WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: Mainly level walking in the Arun River valley. Amberley Wild Brooks is liable to be flooded after heavy rain and in the winter months. This walk is best tackled in the late spring or summer, otherwise you may get stuck in Amberley village (not a bad option). A long way with a baby backpack, not possible with a baby buggy.
  • THIRSTY WORK: The Labouring Man at Coldwaltham; The Amberley Tearooms and The Black Horse pub in Amberley
  • SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Explorer map121 and a compass for general direction.