- On trail 13.0 mi 20.9 km
- Walking time 5–6 h
- Ascent 380 m 1,250 ft
- Descent 520 m 1,700 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
Charlton Forest and Bignor Hill, then Amberley at the halfway point.
Section 5: Cocking Hill to Amberley map
Example stay Amberley Castle (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: National Trails route description . Opened 25 October 2026. The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends. The route page's miles stay in the answers below.
The walk
This is the wooded section, and it ends at the halfway point. A long climb from Cocking Hill leads into Charlton Forest, then over Bignor Hill, where a Roman road shows in the turf. You drop to the River Arun and Amberley, which has a train to London. On most plans that village is the night. The 5-day eats here and goes on to Steyning.
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Start of section
Cocking Hill
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Charlton Forest
The long climb off Cocking Hill, and the most wooded ground on the Way. Burial mounds along the top make a picnic spot. The A285 comes after the trees.
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Bignor Hill
A Roman road still shows in the turf. Bignor Roman Villa is a short detour down the hill, not the line. The route page calls its mosaic the finest preserved in the country.
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The night
Amberley
The halfway point, with a train to London, cafes and pubs. Most plans stop here so Amberley Mount starts the next morning. The 5-day eats here and continues.
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End of section
Amberley
Section 5: Cocking Hill to Amberley overview
The ground
- Woodland
- Roman road
- River Arun
The wooded section. A long climb, then the drop to the Arun. The ridge before this is Harting Down. After Amberley the path climbs Amberley Mount and Chanctonbury Ring on the way to the Adur.
Stops
Refreshments
- Cocking
- below the hill at the start. Amberley at the end
- with cafes and pubs. Carry food through the woods
Toilets
- The route page does not name a public toilet on this section
Before you go
Opposite direction
Amberley to Cocking Hill
You leave the Arun and climb to Bignor Hill, so the Roman road is the view on the way up. Charlton Forest is the long wooded descent. Cocking Hill is the finish, and Cocking is the village below it.
End of section
Cocking Hill
Cocking Hill to Amberley FAQ
How long is Cocking Hill to Amberley?
The route page lists 12 miles (19.3 km). The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends.
Should I stay in Amberley?
On the 6-day, the 7-day, the 8-day, the 9-day and the 10-day, yes. It is the halfway point, and the train is there if you need it. The 5-day walks through at lunch and sleeps at Steyning.
Can I download a GPX for Cocking Hill to Amberley?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Amberley is the night at the end of Day 4 on the 8-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 8-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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