The Walk of Changes – The South Downs Way Walk

Country: England
Place: The South Downs Way, Cocking to Amberley
Visited in: August, 2006

We walked through all 4 seasons in one day on our 12 mile walk from Cocking to Amberley. The weather changed from mild spring tempature to autumn rain to blazing summer sun to strong winter wind.

The changeable weather would turn out to be very fitting for my complete mood change on this fourth stage of our South Downs Way journey. I started out feeling a bit tired, but soon walked my tiredness off and was feeling quite high from the walk. This feeling, however, changed to anger and disappointment when we reached Amberley.

Hot air and hay bales

We picked up the South Downs Way on the chalk path that had seemed never-ending on stage three. The path was quite wide and very easy to follow. In the beginning it did not offer many views, but we did have the added exitement of having to jump for our lives when cyclists came blasting by without any warning.

After a small incline we were joined by many thermal gliders who were using the rising warm air to enjoy what I imagine must be fantastic views of the South Downs. Walking through woodland we also saw two deer jumping across the path just ahead of us.

Many farmers in West Sussex have already harvested their corn, so we walked past both round and square hay bales ready to get transported to the farms spread across the entire South Downs. Seeing the hay bales sparked a bizarre discussion about what the machines used for sowing seeds are called. My “sowing machine” suggestion caused much amusement, but it turns out I have the last laugh. Who feels sheepish now?

My tree

It was by far the easiest walk we have completed so far of the South Downs Way and soon we passed the tree that I have adopted as “my tree” ever since we moved to West Sussex. The tree is a lonely standing tree in the middle of a field just off the A29 near Bury. It is as good as dead, and I’m not sure why the farmer of the field hasn’t chopped it down. I have yet to find out if the tree has any historic meaning, and if that is perhaps why it is left there, but I enjoy seeing “my” little tree, and hope it stays there.

After passing my tree and walking down a small decline we were greeted by a fantastic view of the river Arun, which always makes me feel like I’m home.

Car thieves cause mood-swing

As we crossed the river, we were already dreaming about the pint we would be enjoing at the Black Horse (a charming pub in Amberley). But the dream was brutally shattered when we reached our friend’s car in Amberley. Someone had forced the car door open and unsuccessfully tried to jump-start the car. Needless to say, our mood hit rock-bottom!

We did manage to end the day in a pub, but a lot later than planned and quite a distance away from Amberley. After a taxi-ride to Cocking to pick up our car and a trip to our friend’s place so she could call her insurance company to arrange for them to pick up her car, we drowned our disappointment in a pint at The Fountain in Ashurst.

Next stage

You can read about the next walk from Amberley to Upper Beeding here:

For the Love of Sheep >>

Related articles

You can read about all the stages of our South Downs Way walk in these articles:

Sweltering South Downs Way Walks

Lost on the Milky Way

The Walk of Changes

For the Love of Sheep

Devil’s Work?

Crossing the Greenwich Meridian

Eastbourne never looked sweeter

South Downs Way photo series