Walked this old friend again in May 2022, the sixth time now. The weather was perfect, dry, cloudy, with a gentle cool wind. The quickest yet (13 1/2 hours) due to no wrong turns (!) whatsoever on this somewhat winding route with occasional missing signage. Glanced at the Wey & Arun Canal Trust walking guide (still only £4 !) only a couple of times. It's available on their website here:-
https://weyarun.org.uk/shop/gb/maps-and-books/6-the-wey-south-path.html
and is essential until you become familiar with the walk. Walking at 0515am from Guildford and arrived in Amberley at 1845 with plenty of time to catch the 1917 from Amberley station, about 10 - 15 mins walk away.
No blisters again due to frequent sock changes, about 4 times during the day. I also tried Electrolyte tablets (ORS - available at Boots the chemists) in my water for the first time after trying them out for swimming longer distances earlier in the year. Perhaps they helped. Took 4.5 litres of water for the day, but only used 2.5 litres, the same as the previous 2 years, but it's better to have too much water than...
Kept the food simple, 3 x tins of sausages and beans (brought one home!) and some chocolate flapjacks, nothing else. However, in the days prior to the walk, plenty of hydration, iron rich food, green vegetables, spinach etc and some good sleep as the night before is tricky when the alarm goes off at 0415...
Tried the 'Wim Hof' style over-oxygenation again, deep breathing particularly before inclines, that I believe will help reduce anaerobic respiration and the dreaded Lactic acid build up. I don't think it's a coincidence that having done this for the last 2 walks I have suffered no cramps whatsoever and have barely felt any after-effects of what might be considered a strenuous one day walk. Try it!
Other tips for a longer day walk - a hearty breakfast - Porridge/ Granola/ Muesli. Suncream on before you go, sunglasses and a hat, warm clothes for the way back, bath/ shower the night before so your feet are fully dry in the morning, small bag for your rubbish, a hiking stick, waterproof coat or lightweight poncho for minimalists (like me), "O'Tom" Tick remover (just in case), emergency foil blanket (in case you break your leg etc!), spare laces, torch and spare battery, Ibuprofen for aching feet (doesn't hurt to take them with you just in case), some cash etc. Something to read on the train home perhaps, but something small and light!
The enduring appeal of the walk is that despite being in the south-east this walk somehow manages to avoid quite a lot of the population centres to such an extent that you will not find a single shop on the route, only a couple of pubs and if walking north to south the first will not be open anyway as you'll likely pass it before it opens. There are places of almost absolute peace, only birdsong and the breeze in the leaves. There is some road walking in places, but even those roads are generally quiet by south-eastern standards. The author Holly Worton, who has written guides on this walk describes it as an (outdoor) 'mobile meditation', perhaps she is right. No time to look at your phone, a digital de-tox, just let your thoughts roam, how often do we do that?
Not long after leaving Guildford. St. Catherine's Lock.
Where the Wey South Path shares the same route as the Downs Link which is longer and much more straight!
The Wey South Path leaves the Downs Link, turning left after Run Common bridge, but no sign to tell you to do so... the guide book is essential until the route becomes familiar.
Traces of the Wey and Arun Navigation.
No sign, nothing at all, but you need to go through this gate, across a slightly busy road and through someone's private garden!
Some friends on the way.
Chocolate box dwellings galore along the entire route.
Tools of the trade, a Berghaus Arrow 30 litre day sack, hiking stick, small satchel for quick and easy access to drinks and small snacks etc, and 'the book'.
The Epicentre of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust at Loxwood, with the Trust shop, and the Onslow Arms pub close by.
One of my favourite vistas on the walk, it is also the view from one lucky house.
Sussex and it's sense of space.
You can see the navigation clearly here. Well, it's overgrown of course.
Stopham Bridge just next to the White Hart pub near Pulborough. The age of the bridge is disputed, it may date from around 1423 according to some sources.
Finally, at Amberley.
The end marker for the walk, where it intersects with the South Downs Way, which is 'on the list'.
A sign of the times we live in.
