Christmas Eve Arundel Festive Walk 2023
10 people attending
10 places left
Join me again on a short, festive Christmas Eve walk around the market town of Arundel in the South Downs in West Sussex, with an optional breakfast start.
For people wishing to join me for breakfast in one of the many cafes in Arundel we will meet one hour earlier than the walk start time.
We'll head south on the high street turning left onto Mill Road and passing Arundel Castle, a restored and remodelled mediaeval castle which is currently home to the Duke of Norfolk.
We'll press on, passing the nature reserve wetlands on our left, and leaving the road we'll join the footpath towards Offham. Rounding the oxbows of the River Arun, we'll pass St Leonard's Church tucked away in the tiny hamlet of South Stoke. From here we'll leave the river and start to make our ascent of the day.
Climbing up into the grounds of Arundel Park we'll head towards Hiorne Tower, a folly built by Francis Hiorne to prove his abilities to the 11th Duke of Norfolk.
Passing Arundel Cathedral we'll pop in to admire this magnificent building. Then across the road we will pop in to Fauna Brewing taproom for a festive tipple or two and maybe some games. From here we'll head back down into the Christmas atmosphere of Arundel town centre with its many pubs and amenities with one to note, Pallant, a fine food emporium where the Duke himself is believed to shop. The walk will end at Arundel Cenotaph in the Square.
We will be walking on a mix of road, tracks, muddy tracks and grass.
This walk and event will be an easy and relaxed morning, finishing at lunchtime to allow people to get on with their Christmas activities.
OS map of the route Here!
All pictures were taken by the leader.
MPORTANT! Participation Statement:
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who has recently tested positive for Covid-19, is asked not to attend.
What to bring
What to bring
Some money for the a breakfast if you are joining us.
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Food & drink
Snacks and water.