Canal north/ Durfold wood Circuit, Local

The weather has changed again with a lot of rain falling, and milder temperatures. Once more we selected a route from home, taking the canal towpath north then cutting across through Upper Ifold, to Durfold wood, and then back along the border path and lanes home.

The lake and canal were full and brown with the run off 

The tow path up to Southland lock was damp, with puddles, but the construction had allowed it to drain quite well, however moving on passed the lock and up to Jodie's house was heavy clay and mud, mashed into a real soup. Wellies would have been better here, as we could have walked straight through it rather than balancing on dryer parts.

The next section up to Gennets bridge lock was just as bad if not worse, and with the fields flooded we had to keep to the tow path. This section is still un restored as it needs a bridge across for Ifold Bridge lane.

The track here improved a bit ... still sections of muddy track, but others were drier ..  either the construction of the reduced footfall being further from the villages.

The Large outfall dropped below the track and fell out down the bank on the other side just along the track here.

Along this section of the tow path there are several remains of locks, and most of the canal is unrestored, but is visible beside the track.

After this section, where it meets a lane, the path, veers away from the canal as it goes into private land, and cuts through Sydney wood on forestry tracks ...  these improved and were pleasant to walk on.

At the lock house coming out of the wood, we cut away from the canal path, following the metalled road down to the river.

Turning here towards Upper Ifold farm on a lane that served the farm and the cottages around it.  A very pleasant lane with no traffic and more importantly today no mud!.

Beyond the last of the farm cottages the road ended and transferred onto a path heading into the woods.

The main path soon got very muddy and quagmire like, however we could walk in the shrubs to one side in a maze like course, but at least it was less gloopy.

In the woods were some forestry tracks that made life easier, but then it all ended in a wide quagmire.

Time for a break and some hot coffee. Stopping on a tree trunk near Dunsgate, before turning for home along the Sussex border path.

The border path set off across a large pasture field (boggy but not too muddy), before diving into Upper Ifold wood ...  here the path was not too bad as the main forest tracks seemed to keep away the brunt of the mud. Thjere were two stream crossings that involved a descent and ascent, that was churned up, however in general not too bad until we hit the track in Hog wood.

Now we were back on familiar territory, and knew that once passed Julie's house we would be on metalled road. So a hopeful end to the mudfest, for this walk.

Stopping for an early lunch on a pile of chippings just off the track helped with the final section back up through the village.