How to get there - From Arundel, follow signs to Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and keep going until you reach The Black Rabbit. Roadside parking - easier to find a space than in Arundel itself.
For those with SatNav the postcode is BN18 9PB.
Get a map with driving directions to start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - Concrete steps at the pub - muddy on the lower ones at low tide
General
Description - Spectacular scenery through the Arun gap in the South Downs, with tall chalk cliffs and hanging woods. Gentler scenery with hills in the distance therafter. Greatham is the second road bridge you come to (there is a farm access bridge at Stoke as well).
The Arun is a strongly tidal river and you will enjoy it much more if you can use the flow to go up and the ebb to come back (or vice versa!). Tide timings are approximate, as away from the coast spring tides arrive earlier than neaps, run more strongly and reach further up. The amount of fresh water flow may also suppress the tide.
Our recommendation for this section is to start at the Black Rabbit about half an hour before high tide at Shoreham (on a different river, but the nearest reference port), go up to Greatham for a picnic, and start back as soon as the tide turns. Round trip, about 14 miles, but it should only feel like half of that if you get the tide right! You can cut the trip short, but this will involve some paddling against the tide.
You can also start in Arundel, which adds two miles. if you prefer a one-way trip from Arundel to Pulborough, this is about 13 miles. Start from Arundel, same time as above, or from Pulborough as the tide turns there (but there will be a muddy landing at Arundel). Bus or train will take you back.
There is a private landing at the boat hire at Houghton Bridge, halway. If you get permission, you could visit the nearby Amberley Working Museum while waiting for the tide to turn - it also doubled as a quarry in the James Bond film 'A View to a Kill'.
Comments on this trip
PaulArmstrong 11 Sep 2009
Reference tide times these are available for Littlehampton on the BBC weather site.
