Arun Crossings - DA Event

The Arun Crossings is the final DA event of the year and one of my favourites. Every year it’s different despite most of the elements remaining constant:
· It starts from Pulborough Station car park
· Colin leads it
· It crosses and recrosses the River Arun
· Lunch is at the Blue Ship
· It finishes back at Pulborough Station car park.
In recent years we’ve had to contend with the river being in flood and Edwin’s unfortunate accident, so what would this year bring?

Well, two new riders for a start – David and Dominica from Felpham joined us. They were riding well-specced mountain bikes although David’s was sporting just a single cog at the front and one at the back. With a 32 tooth front ring and 16 tooth back ring, his ratio was roughly in the middle of the plethora the rest of us were carting about!

Colin lead us north away from the station and then along Coombelands Lane before finally striking west at Pickhurst Farm to cross first the Wey/Arun canal and then the river. Next we climbed along the edge of a field and through some woodland to emerge on Bedham Lane. Heading north up Horsebridge Hill, we located the next Bridleway on the right and headed offroad once more, firstly through a strip of woodland and then across some dew-laden grassland.

As usual, immediately after crossing the river we crossed the canal and then heading northeast and east we emerged onto Blackgate Lane. Following another bridleway across fields and through woodland we next popped out onto Lordings Road where we turned left and were soon passing the Limeburners Arms.

Reaching the A272 we turned left and then took the first right onto Rowner Road. After about a mile we took a bridleway on the left, passed through some farm buildings and a patch of woodland to cross the river above a weir. Just after, we crossed the canal at Rowner Lock. Unfortunately the lock is empty at the moment and the lock gates have been removed for preservation.

Immediately north of here, the national grid decided to install a large pylon that straddles the canal – unfortunately I didn’t take a picture to illustrate it, but it shouldn’t prevent the canal from reopening (should the current problems ever be resolved).
Now it was time for elevenses and we headed across to Wisborough Green and the tea shop for huge pots of tea (and small cups of coffee) where we met Edwin and a couple of other members (I’ve nicked this photo from Edwins blog):

Setting off once more, we retraced our steps to Newpound Common then followed the B2133 north before diving onto a very bumpy bridleway alongside a field. Some nice woodland singletrack was followed by some smoother field tracks and the sighting of a Heron as we passed the ponds near Malham farms. Passing through the farm buildings we turned left and passed the spot where Edwin had his accident a couple of years back – as I noticed last year, the roots that caused the problem seem to have been either removed or buried as there is no sign of them now. Crossing over the canal we were confronted by a field of cattle held back by the thin line of an electric fence. I’m having a lot of problems with cat poo in my garden at the moment and found myself wondering if perhaps an electric fence is the answer? Does anyone know? Are cats capable of learning not to visit a particular place if they keep getting zapped there?
After running parallel to the canal for a hundred yards or so, the bridleway then bears right across a field that was at least two feet under water the other year and then crosses the river on a low, narrow and very flat bridge. Three fields later we emerged onto Okehurst Road where we turned left. Just under a mile later, Colin (our ride leader – I reckon he knows every bridleway in West Sussex) gave us the option of staying on the road for another mile or so to the pub or taking a quick bridleway diversion to add some more offroad to the trip. The group split and I batted off down some delightful woodland singletrack and emerged grinning onto a lane at the other end just a couple of minutes later.

Here’s what Streetview shows of the other end!

From here it was but a short ride to the Blue Ship at the Haven for lunch. Once again several other members were there to meet us, including Barbara who was looking a bit sheepish having been told off for eating her own sandwiches in the garden!

As well as a pleasant conversation with the various members of our group, I had a sausage sandwich and a pint of Sussex Ale for lunch. This stood me in good stead for the afternoons adventures. Heading west from the pub, we headed past a mill and several other swanky houses before emerging onto Loxwood Road. Turning left we then took the first left and followed Drungewick Lane down and over the canal and eventually took another bridleway on the left to head south through woodland and fields to arrive at Malham Farms again. Here we repeated one of our morning crossings (the one with the electric fence) and emerged onto Okehurst Lane once more. This time we turned right and headed south for just over half a mile. Turning right onto another bridleway we reached the river and travelled alongside it for a few hundred yards before crossing it and arriving at Loves Bridge over the canal. From here a great bit of singletrack took us up through some woods before we ran the gauntlet of the open grass in front of the house with the loose dogs. But they were nowhere to be seen and we regained the road without incident. A mile and a half later we were again at the Wisborough Green tearooms for more tea and cake.
The final session took us due south from Wisborough Green and up a long straight slightly slippy/bumpy slope and back out onto Blackgate Lane. We followed this to Pickhurst Lane which took us back to Coombelands Lane.

Then where Coombelands Lane made a sharp left turn we hit another bridleway – up through the trees and onto a sandy ridge for a great final offroad blast down to the A283 at Stopham.

Spot the composite photo – they weren’t really that close!!!

Here we made our last two crossings of the Arun – first the new bridge and then the old – before riding the last mile back to Pulborough Station.

Once again this was a very enjoyable ride and there’s another one coming up this Sunday 19th September. It’s our annual ride to the coast led by Pete S. Starting from Three Bridges Station at 09:00 hours It goes to Brighton via a number of quiet lanes and Ditchling teashop (oh, and the Beacon) before lunch on Brighton seafront. The return trip can be either by train or by following NCN20 (with a stop for refreshments at the Victory Inn in Staplefield). It’s a lovely day out and gives a good sense of achievement, hopefully I’ll see you there.