Bramber Castle Circuit, South Downs

 Saturday was to be the better day this weekend so we headed off to Bramber for a wander around the Adur valley. The aim was to park in the Bramber castle parking area (using our English Heritage permit), however at first glance the way was not obvious and we ended up in the back of the village on single track roads. However, once back on the main road through the village we came across the carpark with some spaces still available - the advantages of being early in the morning, and after a croissant to prepare us we set off along the high street to the Bramber nature reserve footpath to the river. this passed an old house and gardens - St Mary's house open in the summer for visitors and is much more than it seems from the road.

The nature reserve was an area of wet lands .. and after the recent rain it was very wet ...  more wellington boot territory than walking boots, and we all got wet feet, but Bertie was enjoying splashing around.

This came out on the river bank ...  a raised berm on each side with a path on top...  very frequented and in the worn areas very muddy.

Following the river north(ish) until we came to a bridge which would take us over to the other side.

The path meandered along the bank of the river for the next section ...  the flood planes were mainly grassed over and with the occasional cow roaming around, much to Bertie's delight at the "all you can eat" buffet of juicy cow poo.

The only difficulties came at the gates/ styles where the concentration of traffic had made it extremely muddy.

A great surprise as we moved into a more fenced of area with sheep - there was a seal on the opposite bank basking in the sun ...  I guess it had made its way up the river from the sea.

Up towards Stretham manor and time for a change in scenery ...  turning East we cut across some fields to get to a lane, before turning North again then West to get back to the Downs link ...   the original route would have taken us further north but more wet fields awaited us there and it was time to seek drier territory on the old railway.

The old railway was still wet but definitely firmer underfoot, and we even found a convenient spot to stop for our lunch where we could sit in the dry, and out of the wind which had started to get a little stronger.

The downs link veers away from the old railway track as it moves into private farmland and follows the Wyckham farm access track which then turns into a tarmacked lane, as it gets closer to Bramber village.

As we came back into the village the lane seemed familiar ... this was where we had ended up earlier this morning looking for the carpark. ...  

leaving the downs link trail we followed a foot path around the back of the houses just above the river flood plain, which soon turned up onto the outer ramparts of the castle ..  a muddy affair with steep side ..  later we found out we could have dropped down to the ditch and up tot eh bailey walls above to get into the castle yard, but we followed the ramparts around to the main gatehouse entrance.

Sadly all that remains of the castle is one side of the main gatehouse, and a large bailey laid to lawn leading to a wooded motte rising up.

From here it was a short stroll back to the van in the carpark below, via the mediaeval church yard.