The sun had burnt off the early morning mist, however it was still too cold to
be in the garden, so Bertie and I chose to go for a second walk in two days ..
a little closer this time and following a route from the Wey and Arun canal
book. We had an early lunch before setting out, however keeping the dog treats
in the rucksack. The only remaining decision was walking boots or Wellies -
after yesterdays escape from too much mud, there was an argument for boots -
but in the end I reasoned that the frost was not heavy enough to freeze the
mud and wellies would be best. This turned out to be a good decision apart
from the road sections... perhaps I need to invest into some walking wellies!
We drove around to the Blue Ship pub just down the road from The Haven
village, and parked up on the side of the road near a road junction which
seemed to have had lots of use.
Leaving the van and walking down the spur road opposite the pub up to the
junction with Marles lane - initially presented like a road.
The tarmac changed into two concrete strips after a while - disappearing into
the mist ahead. the spiders webs on the hedge beside the track glistening in the
sun rays
The track continued and dropped down to the end of a lake - calm and serene in
the noonday light
The track continued up the other side to a house, where we turned down the drive
and through a gate into the field beyond. Now I know why I chose to wear Wellies
... this was waterlogged.
As we approached the wood at the end of the field the sun was melting away the
mist in the field next door, then it was into to trees.
A very slippery stream crossing, before coming into the open woodland beyond.
Change of atmosphere as we crossed into another part of the wood, with more
spruce trees.
Merging onto a woodland track before exiting onto the back road beyond (we would
drive back down this going home after the walk) past some isolated houses.
Picking up a bridle path - much used by quadbikes, initially quite dry,
however....
The winter grass glistening in the sun, but showing signs of waterlogging, the
path beside it was just mud bog then the lower part of the track completely
submerged, before rising to the river crossing.
Crossing the river and the canal (the earlier renovation projects sitting
separate to the running canal) requiring a S shaped track plot to get over.
Following the lane to Malham farm, before turning north across the fields. By
now it was getting quite warm and I was feeling a little over dressed, and
needed to shed a layer.
Beyond the fields the Wey South path disappears into the woods. this section is
all enclosed and winds around inside the edge of the wood boundary, before
coming out onto Drungewick lane.
Another bit of lane walking as we followed the lane up to the bridge over the
canal at the Aqueduct.
We had followed this part of the route many times in the past.
Up the steep section on the otherside, before turning down another drive (the
path slips down the side of the property beside the garage - this had caused a
few moments of indecision when I first used this path)
Beyond the house the path is bordered by fences on both sides as it climbs up
and over a small hillock, with the exception across (or in our case around) an
arable field. Then we picked up the drive for Newhouse farm and associated
enterprises.
After several disparate buildings spread out along the track, it became a green lane, then a mud slide as it dropped to the river Arun. beyond it was concrete rising to Gibbons Mill
Through the buildings at Gibbons Mill, then picking up the drive and heading towards the farm, and the roads.
Following the roads back to the van, luckily they were very quiet and caused no disruption for us.
