I had chosen a relatively local walk today - parking in the small car
park near Durfold Wood, just outside Plaistow with the idea to follow the
Sussex Border Path to join up with the next section on Black Down, coming back
by a parallel route slightly south. There were a number of short cuts if
needed, but I kept off them.
Taking the wide path out of the car park that goes down to the open access area,
[past the industrial units and fields beyond.
In the woods we turned slightly right to stay on the dryer path, which crossed
over the width of the wood and then turned left again. any hope to continue on
the marked track to the border path was soon squashed when it disappeared and we
had to cut back on a bridle path.
The earlier muddy patches in Durfold Wood now cleared up as we walked along the
border path through the beech trees and then new plantation of Downlands
wood.
out of the woods and into the fields to cross to yet another wooded area which
dropped down to a very boggy stream.
The fields were undulating here like a rollercoaster as we popped over a second
round top to see a race horse training gallop, then up along the side of
Shillinglee park house on a narrow and very muddy track. the other side of the
hedge was a pitch and putt layout and the big house.
We crossed over the back road and continued into a section of large fields, even
giving views over to Black Down.
the path now alternated between wooded areas and open fields, and although it
was wet underfoot, it was not overly muddy.
Crossing into Bog Copse the path got lost in the recent harvesting and we
followed the general direction until coming out to the next open field.
The field ended at the A283 road with an awkward exit opposite a junction with
B2131, but it was hard to see the traffic speeding up the hill, and we had to
run over to the other side when we found a gap. Down the road for a 100m before
the border path went down a driveway.
the path dropped down the side of the house and followed a path into the woods.
The bottom of this oak tree was crying out for some doors!
The path was more like a brook until it crossed the stream at the low point -
very muddy and lots of standing water..
The path came out at a road junction, and we now followed the road and turned
off up jay's lane (luckily it was supposed to be closed for maintenance, so
reduced the traffic)
just after Jay's farm the road started climbing - this was the beginning of the
ascent up to Black Down. At a further junction we dropped down slightly to
Roundhurst Common.
The route now headed up the slope, away from the road, with views over the hedge
to the full horseshoe of Black Down
Climbing steeply up the ancient trackway filled with brown leaves. A couple of
zigzags and eventually the slope eased up.
Over the top of this ridge and we met up with the Aldworth house
driveway.
At the end of the driveway we passed the car park we had used last time we were
here, and took the border path continuation beside it. Climbing gently up to the
top of the black down ridge.
A brief visit to the pond as we passed along the top of the ridge
We took the downward traverse track, before reaching the Temple of the Winds to
save the steep descent on the end of the ridge. Additionally it meant we did not
have to mix with the visitors at the top.
The bridleway came out opposite a small parking area on a back road, which
we followed to the next corner, before taking the track into Ramsfold Wood.
The track soon merged with a driveway until that turned to the road and we
continued into the woods beside it.
Crossing the back road and continuing in the woods, before a sharp turn opened
into a treelined path across two fields. We turned left up the back road for a
section before turning off into Wateredge Copse.
The copse was very pleasant with daffodils and the shoots for Bluebells beside a
meandering stream. Eventually this opened into pasture fields looking over to
Upper Diddlesfold Farm.
Through another group of pasture fields
Then down to a farm track, before turning off towards Northchapel.
Into the the housing estates, and to the main road (A283), which we crossed and
down the road opposite.
Crossing over to go through the playing fields (alongside the road), and then up
a bridleway climbing to the trees of Frith Wood.
Once in the woods, a sharp right turn and along a forestry track.
A very straight section along the driveway to Frith Hill followed the side of
Frith wood. At the end the path dodged around the houses and continued for a
while before following a track beside pasture fields, heading down to Park Mill
farm
The huge lake that would have driven the original mill opened before us and we
crossed the dam at the end.
The length of the lake, before climbing up beyond, then continuing along side a
field while the drive turned away.
Through the fields before a green lane leading to Haymans Farm
Beyond the farm we followed the drive for a short way before turning right
beside fields where we crossed the route we had taken from Plaistow a previous
sunday.
Continuing in the same direction we entered Kingspark wood. After going through
the trees for a while the path dropped to the river and climbed the other side,
then an extremely muddy path beside Highbridge house.
Reaching the Shillinglee road, we turned towards Plaistow as there was no sign
of a track opposite. At the forestry entrance we swung into Ashpark wood.
Following the main tracks to minimise the mud involved some knight's moves along
the tracks heading northwards to the border path
Once we met the border path we crossed following a well trodden path through the
woods there and into Durfold wood. Once more along the track leading back to the
car park and lunch.
