Midaru three

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This route has amazing views towards Brighton, Chichester, the Surrey Hills and Ashdown Forest and along the scarp of the South Downs to Devils Dyke. The land use is varied: heathland, pinewoods, yew hangers and woods and farmland. There are no built up areas and very little road walking, which is all quiet (outside of one large roundabout in Arundel). Mid-route there is a one public transport link and several refreshment options.

I created it because MidAru 1 and 2 both seem excessively long and hadn't any reviews yet but it has flaws and could certainly be improved. The GPX file follows my walk in June 2025, even where the remedy is obvious. I couldn't test alternatives to the deep mud, soft sand or tricky climb (see notes 1, 4, 6) but hopefully notes below will help someone else. Mini map (photo 1) shows their positions plus public transport, mid-route refreshments and campsites (which I researched but didn't eventually use).
If you find a better way but want help to get it onto the site either write a review to notify me (you can always delete it later), or join the Slow Ways Discord channel, link at the bottom of this page.

1 Public Footpath up the hill E of Costers Brook, position per OS map = sunken ramp cut into hill with a potentially treacherous deep boggy bit halfway up, also obstructed by fallen trees. Alt. path just to N looks steep, a bit sketchy - not tested. Or try New Lipchis Way?
2 Large fallen tree fully blocks path but people use the parallel field edge
3 Other 3 sides of square of paths were fine
4 From 4 to 6 follows pylons, simple to navigate but sandy ground is very soft in places, hard going. Worth checking alternatives?
5 Not a mistake, straighter path was visible but filled by head high bracken. May be ok in winter.
6 Long slope of soft sand, particularly hard going. Alternative through gorse looked spiny.
7 Went the wrong way!
8 A easier way up the very steep hill according to information board - seen too late (see photo 2)
9 Planned to use this path downhill (saves 1km) but several minor obstacles in first few minutes were unpromising, turned back
10 Path through woods briefly crowded by high undergrowth, but not serious. Rare Deadly Nightshade plant found here.
11 Path between hedges had a few brambles at top but was fine beyond.
12 Dull tarmacked access road. Is path on ridge to south?
13 The most pleasant way to the town square? Other Arundel Slow Way routes are impossible to follow or use the busy road.

Purple - train station, 900m from Arundel.
Blue - bus stops. Route 99 (Petworth - Chichester) passes mid route, stop named “Upwaltham, Littleton Farm”. Not Stagecoach so their day-rover tickets are not valid.

A, B, F, G, H, I, J, K Campsites, B is C&C Club members only.
C Shop with cafe, deli-counter, sold delicious cherries. Pub not open 7/7.
D, E Benches in playground and churchyard (also orchids).
G Close to campsite is sole mid-route bus stop also outdoor cafe with picnic benches, portaloo and water tap.
H A bothy as well as camping

This route has amazing views towards Brighton, Chichester, the Surrey Hills and Ashdown Forest and along the scarp of the South Downs to Devils Dyke. The land use is varied: heathland, pinewoods, yew hangers and woods and farmland. There are no built up areas and very little road walking, which is all quiet (outside of one large roundabout in Arundel). Mid-route there is a one public transport link and several refreshment options.

I created it because MidAru 1 and 2 both seem excessively long and hadn't any reviews yet but it has flaws and could certainly be improved. The GPX file follows my walk in June 2025, even where the remedy is obvious. I couldn't test alternatives to the deep mud, soft sand or tricky climb (see notes 1, 4, 6) but hopefully notes below will help someone else. Mini map (photo 1) shows their positions plus public transport, mid-route refreshments and campsites (which I researched but didn't eventually use).
If you find a better way but want help to get it onto the site either write a review to notify me (you can always delete it later), or join the Slow Ways Discord channel, link at the bottom of this page.

1 Public Footpath up the hill E of Costers Brook, position per OS map = sunken ramp cut into hill with a potentially treacherous deep boggy bit halfway up, also obstructed by fallen trees. Alt. path just to N looks steep, a bit sketchy - not tested. Or try New Lipchis Way?
2 Large fallen tree fully blocks path but people use the parallel field edge
3 Other 3 sides of square of paths were fine
4 From 4 to 6 follows pylons, simple to navigate but sandy ground is very soft in places, hard going. Worth checking alternatives?
5 Not a mistake, straighter path was visible but filled by head high bracken. May be ok in winter.
6 Long slope of soft sand, particularly hard going. Alternative through gorse looked spiny.
7 Went the wrong way!
8 A easier way up the very steep hill according to information board - seen too late (see photo 2)
9 Planned to use this path downhill (saves 1km) but several minor obstacles in first few minutes were unpromising, turned back
10 Path through woods briefly crowded by high undergrowth, but not serious. Rare Deadly Nightshade plant found here.
11 Path between hedges had a few brambles at top but was fine beyond.
12 Dull tarmacked access road. Is path on ridge to south?
13 The most pleasant way to the town square? Other Arundel Slow Way routes are impossible to follow or use the busy road.

Purple - train station, 900m from Arundel.
Blue - bus stops. Route 99 (Petworth - Chichester) passes mid route, stop named “Upwaltham, Littleton Farm”. Not Stagecoach so their day-rover tickets are not valid.

A, B, F, G, H, I, J, K Campsites, B is C&C Club members only.
C Shop with cafe, deli-counter, sold delicious cherries. Pub not open 7/7.
D, E Benches in playground and churchyard (also orchids).
G Close to campsite is sole mid-route bus stop also outdoor cafe with picnic benches, portaloo and water tap.
H A bothy as well as camping