22 February 2021

Chanctonbury/ Steyning circuit, Local

 Still curtailed to the local area by lock down, but stretching the definition slightly we headed back to Chanctonbury, with the concept of fitting in a piece of the South Downs way jigsaw, between the ring and Bramber/ Upper Beeding.

Taking the small single lane track off the Steyning road we parked in the car park below the ridge line

The ring stood on the top of the ridge slightly to the right, as we left the carpark and took the farm track southwards.
The farm track changed into a wide chalk path that zigzagged up the slope, through the trees at a steady incline, before they thinned towards the top.
Up on the ridge line we met the South Downs way, westward to the ring, and Eastward towards Bramber. The stark contrast to getting up showed as the path converted into a rolling track over and down gentle hills.
Looking back we could see Cissbury ring towards the coast, as the track rolled gentle on to the East.
Approaching Steyning bowl the road around the top of the bowl can be seen . We would head over towards it then follow the track in the field beside it - cows had made this a smorgasbord of delight for Bertie, who made an attempt to try every available pile.
The track cut down a long grassy ridge down to the river valley, The mast on the other side showing where the continuation of the SD way would head.
Viewing the bowl from the other side, showed where we had come from.
On our side the long grassy ridge continued through a pig area (no longer grassy, but still gentle).
The vast chalk quarry on the other side of the river opened out as we exited the pig enclosures, as well as the odour improved. The path converted into a farm track and then exited onto a road at Botolphs.
Leaving the road we cut over a field to the Downs link path .. the old railway was a solid, flat track which we followed back towards the town of Steyning.
We followed the downs link track to just below Bramber castle where it continued North and we cut across into Steyning village itself.
This section was dull in comparison to being on the hills as it worked through the houses and then the high street before coming out the other side.
We stopped at the first available bench for a break and some sustenance, but this was marred by the constant traffic.

Navigation was more of a struggle and I must remember to blow up the map for this kind of area, however we managed to escape unharmed back into the fields to head back to the van.
We came out from beside an old mill, with the wheel chained up and falling to a rusty ruin, and we were in horse territory.
The path followed beside a track, however the fields were relatively dry and the mud was not to invasive.
The fields opened out as we moved into the Wiston estate, and the ridge showed above. However the cloud had come over and there were drops of rain beginning to fall. We could measure this by how clear the ring was above us.


As the rain came on for real the ring disappeared into the clouds, and we hurried onwards towards Wiston house.
By now it was really raining, as we got glimpses of the old manor house, and a bridge over the back drive...  must have been for an old "walk" from the house, as the road petered out at some cottages.
The final section up the track to the farm we had passed at the very start of the walk, which had some wonderful old buildings, but all in some real need of care and attention.
Then back to the van and to get out of the rain for some lunch


16 February 2021

MOT stroll, Peasmarsh

 The van had to go to the garage for its annual MOT. This should take approx 2 hours (as they do inspections and video checks above the standard MOT checks), but history led me to believe that they would stretch this by 50%, and I did not want to spend so long sitting in the sterile waiting area.

Boots on, GPS reset and I set off for the downs link railway path, where it crossed under the A248 road ...  heading towards Guildford.
This got me away from the roads, and onto a reasonable track with only a small amount of mud.
Where the old railway curved away to join Shalford station, I cut left and over the modern main line to Portsmouth and the south.
The foot bridge led to a small path along the back of car parks for the more recent office buildings, heading towards the Park and Ride car park.
After the end of the Park and ride carpark, I crossed the amin line again, this time underneath and headed across the flood plain to the Wey canal on the other side.
St Catherine's Lock came up first - very full and the overflow weir was in flood.
Next along the canal was to go under the rail line heading for Shalford and Redhill. This was also where the downs link railway peters to a stop.
Still on the canal towpath, and down to cross the A248 once more ...  this time you have to also cross over to the opposite bank of the canal, as I wanted to cut to the start of the Wey South canal as it peeled away towards Cranleigh.
Gunwharf key ...  the old building is the only memory of the gunpowder stores that used to be here in the days of the canal heyday.
The beginning of the Wey South canal .. this is where it goes under the A281, and heads off behind Bramley towards Cranleigh.
A short pause for a bacon buttie at the trailer cafe in the carpark, before walking down the road that cuts through to the Godalming road.
WHere the road crossed the river here, I picked up the track that continued on the east side of the valley. This was the track we had used when we did the circuit of Bramley earlier in the year.
On the other side of the valley you could just about pick out the Wey canal and towpath.
This was also the start of the "muddy" sections ..  between the fields had seen a lot of traffic.
Cutting away from our Bramley track I followed the farm track back towards the Godalming road.
At the canal it was time to take the canal towpath back north and head for the garage as time was coming around for the estimated due time.
The towpath was fairly solid underneath, however there were sections where it was completely muddy .
Strange construction at the bottom of a garden ...  I guess they use it in the summer to gaze down on the walkers whilst sipping on their Pims.
The canal wandered around a bit here, and there was an opportunity to avoid the worst mud by cutting through the brush and gorse on the side.
Getting close to the end as the path went up and over the back road.
Unstead lock was the final marker that it was time to find a cut through back to the garage.
A couple of paddle boarders were lifting out and around the lock when I got there.
From here I found a path in the back that led to the lane behind the nursing home and thence back around to the garage.
I still had to wait 30 mins for the van to be finished off - it passed but another note on the list, and a warning about the exhaust and auxiliary fan belt.