After a week of rain, last night was clear and a ground frost covered the
garden, so I wanted to get out and walk in the promised sun, so I picked a route
on Black Down - a sandy outcrop near Haslemere where we had been a few years
ago. I also added into the equation following the Serpent's Way - A route that
zigzagged down from Haslemere to Petersfield, taking in Petworth and Midhurst on
the way. My last walk in this area had finished along the start section of this,
and this would take us to the other side of Haslemere.
I parked in the lower of the two Black Down car parks, as it was the first we
came to following the "Idiot Box", however it turned out that the higher one
was rammed, and this one forgotten by some coincidence.
Leaving the van and stepping out into the shade of the woods was cold but not
brutal, and Bertie and I set off for the view point - a little way up into the
rising sun. There was not much to see as the lower valley was covered in mist
yet to be burnt off.
Looking across to the "Temple of the Wind" at the end of the promontory, we
turned uphill once again and followed a track into the trees. This came out on
the larger track (Serpent's Way and Sussex Border Path). We could follow the
bottom of the cutting or the bank on either side (all had paths).
The sunken trail flattened out as we reached the plateau of Black Down, with
some muddy sections, that spread as people had gone wide to get around. The dew
ponds around had a frozen surface reflecting the sunlight.
More water - this time no ice, probably because dags had been swimming already
this morning - I was discovering that this was a popular walk for the early
morning dog walkers. We continued into the rising sun looking for the hidden
viewpoint.
Reaching the end of the promontory the trees opened out and the view looked
spectacular with the bright sun, low mist and shadows.
Dropping over the end to the "Temple" and the uninterrupted view south
One last view into the sun before turning completely around and heading back
into the trees.
The serpent trail had turned back on itself here and we continued along the
plateau looking to meet the Sussex border path (which had cut across from where
we had met it earlier). Now going north west but still on the plateau.
Looking across to Woolbeding and the line where the Serpent's way comes back
from the west.
Nice and sandy along this section, and even some Belted Galloway's hiding in the
heather
Still on the plateau, but heading downhill slightly, and another frozen pond.
Dropping downhill through the woods, before coming out in a field looking across
to Red Court -we would come back along the other side of it later.
Another tight path, before we could cut the corner off dropping down through a
scrub field.
The track ended at a road - a driveway really, which we followed until it ended
at a side road. At this point the signs pointed a left turn through a watery
area, with plenty of "manipulation" having happened recently.
This track followed alongside the river for a while before a boardwalk section.
We met a dog and handler coming the other way, so Bertie had a Robin Hood moment
until the other dog gave way and stepped off, then he had to retreat as the
human would not, finally we made it over and up the steps on the other side.
A hole in the wall at the end of the path signalled the exit onto a private road
- the signage for the Serpent's way was the best I have come across for the last
few years. Purple one way and green the other. We then followed the road out to
the major road.
Across the road and up into the housing row on the other side. We then took a
half hidden track between two fo the houses up the slope and into the woods,
climbing steeply into Marley Common.
Marley common was a traditional beech wood, with wide tracks, which we had to
use all of to circumnavigate some of the mud bogs along the way tantamount to
its popularity.
Out the other side and the car park there it changed into heathland. This was
where we left the Serpent's Way and headed back to Haslemere.
A short diversion to take in the local pond before cutting down through the
trees (parallel to the route inward)
At the end of the wood we came out onto the main road to Fernhurst, before
crossing and zigzagging down a minor road and back along some garden fences (all
to avoid walking on the road side).
Now we could use a path on the bank above the main road alongside some fields
which ended when a minor road came in ... we turned down this and followed
it for a couple of kilometers - not very inspiring, with a gradual climb,
steeper in some parts, and past a recreational ground until it ended at a
complex junction at Haste Hill.
We did not immediately see the path through Haste Hill so had to find a way
through the undergrowth - not a problem as it was fairly open. At the other side
we had to re-orientate to ensure we picked up the footpath and not the private
driveway for Lythehill house.
Following the path down the side of fields to the junction with the B road we
had arrived on this morning. Here we merged into the section of the Serpent's
way that followed the short bit we had completed at the end of 2021, so back
following the small round purple signs. We set off down a long driveway.
The driveway changed to gravel track after a few houses and then to a green
track after some barriers at the last house on the road. This then headed into
some trees - still in the same straight direction.
Breaking out of the trees into fields as we climbed up to High Barn farm, going
around it, and back on the same straight direction.
Ascending between fields and a small wood, hiding the sun for a little reminding us that it was still cold. then a slight change to a more southerly direction to come out on the minor road that led up to the car park.
To save walking on the road we took to the bracken and pine woods to the side, picking one of the multitude of tracks climbing up to the car park.
We came out at the junction with the driveway to Aldworth house, opposite the car park.
The wind was blasting through the area, beliying the perceived temperature from the clear skies and sun overhead, so we shut ourselves into the van for lunch.
Going home I followed my instinct rather than the "idiot box" turning up the road and past the upper car park definitely over subscribed and spilt out onto the verges - which was a shame with the space in the lower car park.
