In the first of a short series exploring four Sussex rivers we are taken on a journey along the River Arun.
SPB Mais, walks pioneer, said Sussex has one drawback: “It ruins one for everywhere else.” Part of that impact flows from our rivers: beautiful enhancers of our county scenery. Blessed is Sussex to have the Arun, Adur, Ouse and Cuckmere, ever changing according to light, tide and season: generally north-south plunges of water alive with diversity and history.
There’s plenty of energy behind the graceful surges of the River Arun. Its headstreams in St Leonard’s Forest east of Horsham have, 37 miles later, swollen the Arun into the UK’s second fastest tidal river, giving fishing craft and speedboats alike an estuary nudge towards the Channel.
Some 400 years ago the Arun exited further east, at Lancing, swelling the Adur. Shifting shingle bedevilled Arun’s flow and eventually by 1530, after feints at Worthing, Ferring and Goring, the river settled for Littlehampton.
This story is from the March 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
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This story is from the March 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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