The day was too good to stay around home, so I picked out a shorter
circular around Fittleworth taking in a section of the serpent trail as it
bent south on the curve back to Petersfield. We parked in the NT car park at
Hesworth common where the road leaves the village. It is also, by chance, a
point where the Serpent's Trail crosses.
Picking up the ST as it crossed the car park and disappeared into the trees,
gently climbing.
This area is riven with gullies and ridges, which we followed before snaking
around a lazy 180 degree turn.
Suddenly it opened out as we broke out of the woods at the top of the hillock,
with great views south to the South Downs
Leaving the top we dropped through the heathland to a second view point - this
time looking slightly more eastward.
Continuing along the ST through heathland and woods until we left the common at
Hesworth Grange. This was where we left the ST and followed the back road to
Hesworth Farm.
Leaving the farm we followed a footpath through pasture fields, coming out at
Woodruff's farm, where we climbed the hill to High Hoes.
Following the driveway along to the back road, which we followed northwards down
the slope until a sharp bend.
Taking a footpath through pasture fields and past a converted farmhouse. There
picking up the drive way until we could take a path northwards alongside new
wheat fields.
The track we were following got hidden beneath the crops , however we knew it
was straight and finished at the edge of the house. Once across we took the path
beside the house, and across a sloping field with 2 bulls and a horse in it,
much to Bertie's concern.
Across the road we took a path, at first glance looked derelict, but improved as
it followed a stream.
Across a footbridge and a very rutted grass field before coming back to the
stream once more.
Now the path was very quaint as it meandered beside the stream, and of course
Bertie took a dip.
Leaving the stream we climbed a bank and up to teh outskirts of Petworth.
Following a lane down to the A283and across it.
Along a path on the other side of the road beside a steep drop, we had re-joined
the ST and would follow it back to the van. At a path crossroads we turned right
and the looked across a valley to the woods on the other side where we were
heading.
The top of the slope was marked by a small kopje and views opened out to the
north seeing the hills of Hascombe
After a slight drop we picked up a sunken track leading up to Brinkshole
Heath.
The recent changes to the trail showed again here as the trail and the map
diverged, which was good as it avoided a section along the road. We came out of
the woods at Montpelier Farm and took the driveway.
The track came out to the road at a T-junction, however straight on lead into
Flexham park, in a very straight track.
The long track climbed gently upwards past ongoing harvesting, and into newer
sections.
We took a diversion into the plantation at the top of the hill to find the trig
point hiding in the new growth. Picking the ST up again we headed down to the
road and an unmarked car park.
Another change to the ST and we headed south down an ancient sunken path leading
to and around a large sand pit. This was redrawn to avoid another road section.
Past a natural way to stop the motorised vehicles using the track.
Turning east again we crossed a couple of arable fields before entering
Lithersgate common.
A much more randomised wood compared to the commercial ones we had already
passed through, and some strange structures which I think were BMX ramps but
they were very steep.
South once more and we followed down the edge of a new plantation to a back road
for a short bit.
A zigzag into the woods of Stopham estate at Fittleworth Wood (we had been in
these on another of our walks)
Leaving the woods at a collection of houses and then a path around the back of
one of them, that lead down to Fittleworth alongside a sheep field.
Approaching the A283 and another unmarked parking area, crossing over and into the village. Opposite the school we followed a twitten to come out beside the church.
Then back into the woods of Hesworth Common, and the path back to the car park with the van.
