27 January 2022

Billingshurst&Canal North Circuit, Local

The weather was still dry, however a bit of a damp cold breeze, so staying local Bertie and I headed for the jubilee playing fields near Billingshurst for a circuit that would take us across the canal through Newpound then back north and re-crossing the canal at Malham then back through the fields to the recreational ground.

We parked up, suitable as far as we could from the "exercise" class of people shadow boxing in a loop in front of the changing rooms. Heading out alongside the pond to the path along the back. We nipped over the stile into the field used for dog walking, in the hope that we could meet our projected path on the other side, however the fence had not holes and we had to keep in the field until a gat then go back down the correct side

Once on the designated path we followed back along the hedge and then into the woods - We could have nipped into the woods form the back path I guess, but we will have another try one day.

The path followed the edge of the wood before turning into pasture fields, all with stiles and very small dog hole, that required Bertie to be hauled over the top. This eventually came out on the back road beside Rowner Farm.
Crossing through the farmyard and then down a well rutted muddy track down to the river, where there were some complex weirs and ponds.
then across Rowner lock - still waiting for the rest of the canal to catch up.
On the other side of the canal we continued through the sheep grazing field up to Paplands farm, then down its drive way to the B2133 at Newpound. We came out opposite the Bat & Ball, before following the minor road down past it heading for Fisher's farm.
Opposite the attraction we took another farm driveway heading to Howfold farm, which continued as a farm track once past the farm buildings. Turning sharp right onto crop fields we headed north back towards the Wey South Path.
Crossing over the B2133 once again and onto a path through the woods (the path is to the side of the Smale farm drive). In the woods the path follows a vehicle track in a circuitous route before coming out to arable fields beyond.
This merges with a farm track as it heads north to Malham farm over a slight shoulder in the land.
The ponds at Malham farm, crossing on the causeway, then through the farmyard and down the track beside it - we had been down this track several times before.
Across the canal once again at Malham lock (the one in the middle of nowhere - the trust does not have access to the canal line either side of it). following the canal line up to the next bridge before turning back into the fields.
Back over the pasture fields towards Bignor Wood (where we had been earlier in the year, just heading the other way). the flooded section was still wet but much drier.
Out on the back road which we followed down to Okehurst farm, which seemed much more a collection of converted properties, than a farm.
A short section down Rowner road before taking the path left and down into the woods across a stream.
Out the other side and through a field (marked for cattle but empty today), then another short section into a wood.
We were back in the area of stiles with impossible small gaps that required Bertie to be hauled over - he was pretty fed up of it by now! More pasture fields with sheep and a couple of pigs and lots of mud as we approached Tedfold.
On the other side the fields opened out and the path easier - presumable as we were now on the outer reach of the dog walkers
Into the playing fields and around the pitches to the clubhouse, before finally coming around to the van. The carpark a lot emptier once all the classes had finished.


24 January 2022

Hascombe & Wormley GSW Circuit, Local

 I decided on another link in the Greensand Way today, it was chilly but had been dry for a while so I hoped that the mud was somewhat less severe. I reasoned it was easier to park in the old rectory carpark below Hascombe hill than try and find somewhere at the Wormley end.

Leaving the van and walking down the large vista towards the White Horse pub, which was at a junction of many paths, including the GSW as it crossed the B2130 road.
Leaving the pub car park, we cut over a field on a sandy track. Before turning right at a path crossroads (we would come back here later) and the first mud of the day - avoidable.
the path came out onto a minor road and then rose up the other side after a slight stagger, and through the pasture behind the house to the woods.
Through the copse above the pasture, on a wide lane, before crossing a minor road (Mare Lane) and up a private road on the other side. This was marked on the map as a bridleway, however there was a locked road and foot gate across it. I asked a local dog walker on the other side who confirmed it was a public path and pointed to a bridleway sign on the other side of the gate. So we vaulted the gate (or rather Bertie was hauled over), and I climbed it.
This private road went past a number o f multimillion pound house estates, and then joined up with the road I had been on form my walk to Guildford. Where this road merged onto the B2130 we turned back on ourselves and took a bridleway down the back of the houses. 
The path gently climbed into a wood, before dropping down into a valley.
a multiple level junction at the bottom, before rising up the other side and then following a forestry track as it climbed up a small defile.
Across the road (Salt Lane) and into Hydon's Ball car park. As is usual around here there were a large number f paths in all directions and I had to check the route several times, however sticking the largest direct track worked.
On a whim to go to the top we took a direct path, that climbed to the highest point.
On the top there was a wide open area, surrounded by reservoir access points - the whole top musty be covering the water.
Looking South, however we cut East first 
Dropping down through the bracken and gorse we passed another monument to early donors to the National Trust. Following this we dropped down through more open woods, pickup again on the wide track we had started at the car park.
The track opening into crop fields crossing diagonally to the church spire - hidden in the trees
Coming out at the church and Court Farm we passed this old lime kiln. We woudl be back here shortly, but this time we soon picked up a path leading away from the road.
The path came out at another pub - The Merry Harriers, with some glamping and Llama walks.
Now was the muddiest section of the walk ...  along a river pasture, luckily it was not too deep and I got away without too many issues. Finally the track had a number of railway sleepers laid to assist, and even provide a raised walkway to the side.
Entering into Buss's Common we turned off the main track onto a footpath crossing the short side, however Bertie did find a suitable pond for a dip.
This path then led into a pine forest, with bracken undergrowth. Here was much drier.
The track came out at an unmarked carpark beside Sweetwater pond. We tracked around the end of the lake on a road and then re-entered the forest, climbing slightly up to and then beside the main railway line from Guildford.
Crossing over the A283 main road and then down a minor road and past the entrance to Wormley station (where we had been on the walk from Haslemere).
Opposite the station entrance road we took a path behind a row of houses, that came back to the A283, where we crossed over and picked up a back road.
Where the road turned sharply we continued on a dirt track, curving into Hambledon Common
Once on the common we angled away from the GSW across the common to come out on a road leading around the southern side of the village.
Past the village shop and PO, the other side of a pond, with picnic tables, and around the cricket pitch. The white house on the righthand side is Oakhurst Cottage, an old NT house.
A bit of path sidestep follows as we did a series of Knight's moves to reach a track cutting through pasture fields with the spire of St Peter's church on the horizon 
A final steep slope up to the church and to touch our outward track. From this junction of paths we took the wide dirt road heading east, with the woods of Hydon heath to the left.
The lane got a bit narrower, as we passed a reservoir, still in a straight line, up to Vann Hill
From Vann Hill we followed a bridleway into the woods, as it contoured around about halfway up a slope. After a while the view opened up to the south, unfortunately this was rather misty.
The track crossed Markwick Lane with a slight zigzag, and a bypass where the original path was blocked with fallen trees, then up into The Hurtwood.
The older part of Hurtwood was wide and open. We were on a straight line track.
This changed into an area that had been harvested , and replanted, the right slightly older than the left.
A steep exit from Hurtwood, and back to the fields opposite the White horse. At the junction of tracks we had been at earlier we used the path we had not yet taken.
We went up the road for a few meters before we could break through the hedge and onto the wide vista and so back to the car park. Once in the van for coffee and snacks before returning home.