Arundel Castle, Chactonbury Ring & walking through a pig farm

Today was quite a day! We awoke bright & early in our lovely Thatched House B & B in Amberley, had a great breakfast thanks to our very gracious hostess, Mary and then took a Southern train to Arundel, about 20 miles away.
Arriving in Arundel, we walked a mile into town and found ourselves at the famous Arundel Castle entrance. Paying our £17 entrance fee, we wandered around the incredibly manicured gardens, spent time in the Fitzalan Chapel, which has been a bastion of the Catholic faith since Henry VIII days. Finally, after a creamed scone & tea in the castle cafe, we entered the public part of the castle itself. The Montgomerie, Fitzalan and Howard families have been close to the throne since 1066 and a good part of English history has in one way or another, been touched by those associated with Arundel.

We left Arundel and started our way eastward on the South Downs Way, reaching Chactonbury Ring around 2, in time for a packed lunch after the long walk up to the wooded trees at the summit. The woods felt oddly quiet and Joan swears that she felt a presence hidden in the dark of the trees.

As we were finishing our break, an old biplane appeared on the horizon and coming straight at us, flew right over our heads, the pilot leaning out of the open cockpit and waving to us as the plane passed right overhead!

We walked along the high open Downs for several miles, the light winds at our backs and just enough clouds to keep it from being too warm. Perfect walking weather! Then as we turned down to head into town, the trail markings stopped appearing and we became uncertain as to the right way. We thought we had spotted our destination town but we seemed to be getting further away with each step. Then we came to a fate warning that we were entering an open range of farm. Boy, were we ever! Ahead of us, on both sides of the path, hundreds of porkers were snuffling and grunting away. Most paid us no mind, but a few big ones eyed us with interest. We just kept walking a little faster. After a half a mile, we finally came to another gate and left our porcine buddies.

 Later over diner at the Castle Inn in Bramber, we figured that there must have been some recent re-routing of the Way and maybe the signage folks hadn't caught up yet. Whatever --- the last few miles had little or no directional signs (usually the familiar acorn symbol shows up just when we need it) and the pathways seemed rough and ill-maintained. Hopefully this is just temporary.