MERIDIAN CHAPTER – THE CASTLE RUN 
Sunday, 27 September 2026 | Arundel, West Sussex

Another Sunday, another Meridian Chapter adventure! This time our destination was the historic town of Arundel in West Sussex, with our Castle Run finishing at the picturesque Swanbourne Lake, just beyond the magnificent Arundel Castle.

Our ride was led by Road Captain Steve Uffindell, who had carefully planned and prepared an enjoyable route, combining a quick motorway blast with some lovely countryside riding through Surrey and the South Downs.

The day certainly started promisingly. Early morning sunshine greeted us at our usual meeting point in Greenwich Park, giving everyone plenty of optimism for a pleasant day’s riding.

The first part of our journey was all about making progress. Leaving Greenwich, we headed along the A2, M25 and M23 towards our comfort stop at Pease Pottage Services – a chance to stretch our legs, grab a coffee and prepare for the more scenic part of the adventure.

 Shortly after leaving Pease Pottage, however, a few drops of rain began to fall and for a moment it looked as though our luck might be running out. Fortunately, the threatening clouds quickly cleared and we were able to continue without getting wet. Sometimes the weather gods do smile upon us!

With the motorway miles behind us, the second part of the ride was a completely different experience. We enjoyed some lovely countryside roads through Surrey and the beautiful South Downs, surrounded by picturesque scenery. A thoroughly enjoyable contrast to the morning’s motorway riding and a reminder of why we love exploring the British countryside on two wheels.

As expected on a Sunday afternoon, Arundel was bustling with visitors enjoying its historic surroundings. Our final destination was a little further along the road at beautiful Swanbourne Lake.

 A special thank you goes to the staff at Swanbourne Lodge Tearoom, who kindly allowed us to park our motorcycles alongside the lake – a lovely gesture and a particularly pleasant setting in which to finish our ride.

 Swanbourne Lake itself has a fascinating history. Long before becoming the peaceful beauty spot we see today, it was a millpond, with records of a watermill here dating back to 1066 and the time of the Norman Conquest. The millpond was later enlarged during the 18th century, creating the lake we know today.

There is also a remarkable wartime connection. During the Battle of Britain in August 1940, a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber was shot down and crashed at Swanbourne. Nearly half a century later, exceptionally low water levels in 1989 revealed remains associated with the aircraft, along with unexploded bombs. Quite an extraordinary piece of history hidden beneath such a peaceful location!

A huge thank you to Steve for organising and safely leading another excellent Meridian Chapter ride-out, and of course to everyone who joined us for the day.

Another enjoyable Sunday in the saddle – some great roads, beautiful scenery, a little history and, most importantly, great company.

Until the next adventure! 

Best Regards

Konrad Markwardt