This walk runs from Barnham to Hunston and largely follows the route of part of the Portsmouth to…read moreArundel Canal. It takes in very gentle landscapes, much of it flat farming land, but also small sections of woodland and hedgerow. In summer, there is an abundance of wild hedgerow flowers, insect and bird life.
The walk is almost entirely level, and there are steps to climb some short slopes. It is usually reasonably dry (depending on the weather, of course!). Wear walking boots, long trousers and a shirt, as in summer heavily overgrown paths can mean 2m high nettles and brambles! (A walking stick comes in handy to beat back the undergrowth). Where the canal has disappeared, you walk across fields, which can also make for uneven surfaces.
The walk is about 9km long and takes 3 hours or so at a steady pace, and the footpath is well signed throughout. There are no opportunities to stop for refreshments, however, for the first 7km, so take water and some snacks with you. You also need to be fit enough to walk for this distance comfortably. It is entirely on OS Landranger Map 197, as are all map references.
The impetus for the construction of the canal was the Napoleonic War in the opening years of the 19th century. Goods going from London to the naval dockyards at Portsmouth usually went by ship and followed the coastal sea route, and were vulnerable to French raids. The canal was part of a route built to provide an inland alternative.
The first part of the canal crossed Portsea island to connect Portsmouth to Chichester Harbour. A second canal ran from Chichester Harbour into Chichester, and from a junction at Hunston another arm ran to Ford and the river Arun, which was used to navigate north to Pallingham. There, barges used the older Wey and Arun canal to strike north towards London. Construction began in 1818 and was completed in 1823, but the undertaking was never a commercial success: the Napoleonic wars had ended, coastal shipping had resumed and the advent of the railways from 1846 onwards provided unbeatable competition.
With the exception of the section to Chichester, which survived until 1906 (and is currently partly navigable and being restored), the rest of the canal was abandoned as early as 1850. However, enough artefacts remain to make it enjoyable both to walk and to see some industrial archaeology many parts are still 'in water', although very heavily overgrown.
From Barnham station, turn right, walk under the railway bridge and turn right again at the fabulous Murrell Arms pub. A plaque on the wall gives some history of this wonderful ale-house, built in 1750 and licensed since 1866. Walk a mile south west to St Mary's church, which dates from mediaeval times. To your left, just before the church, follow the new cycle-track for a few hundred metres until you come a sloping flint wall above two brick walls either side of a depression: closer inspection reveals this to be the site of the Hollinsworth swing bridge over the canal (at OS 957034). (The excavated depression is the site of the waterway).
Turn right and follow the signed footpath this is the former tow-path of the canal. Just further along, by a farm, are the clear remains of the Stewart swing bridge, and part of the canal bed here may be in water. (Confusingly, the cast iron arms of the Hollinsworth bridge are laid out on the grass, here). Further along, it's clear the canal ran on an impressive embankment, although the far side has been removed. The path then goes over a small stream and through a short wood to cross the Barnham to Bognor Regis railway line at OS 950035. Take care crossing!
Beyond the railway, another short section of woodland follows, with the canal clearly visible on the right. The path then becomes a small lane with high hedges either side, and traces of the canal disappear until after you have passed Lidsey sewage works. (Just past the works are the scant remains of an aqueduct over a small stream). The footpath then crosses the A29, at OS 938032, and now the canal is on the left (south) side. The path here and further along may be heavily overgrown in summer. After 300m the path passes a house on the left and becomes a 3m wide grassy path with a tall hedge on the right. Ignore the fork to the right, and continue straight ahead again, the canal (still on your left) may be in water here.
This section carries on for nearly 1km, until we reach another canal embankment, again heavily wooded, where the path narrows for 150m. Here it crosses a small river - the Adingbourne Rife ('rife' is a Sussex dialect word for stream). In winter, with less plant growth, the remains of the aqueduct carrying the canal over can clearly be seen. After another 100m, we find that, sadly, the embankment has been removed and we now have to continue on the right of way across large fields for 1km until we climb slightly to walk through a further few hundred metres of woodland to reach the little lane at
