Taking advantage of another day with sunny periods and maybe a chance of
some of the mud drying, Bertie and I headed out for a shorter walk around the
river rother between Stopham and Pulborough.
We parked on the verge near to Stopham church, just off the A283. We had noticed
this last time we came past here (mainly because of the dog poo bag dispenser).
Turning off the back road after a few steps and down a driveway that changed
into a farm track then a footpath into a plantation.
The path climbed slightly up a hill before dropping down the other side to the
A283 road
On the other side of the road a path led up traversing the slope of Fittleworth
Common, then steeper to the highest point.
The top was flat stretching towards Fittleworth village before we worked our way
down the south side of the slope.
We then zigzagged around some pasture fields working down towards the river
Crossing the river, first the mill leet then the bigger stream.
Taking the path beside the river, on a built up bank keeping it dry.
Unfortunately as we left the river, it got a bit swampy, before we crossed a
grass field
A section between field hedges brought back the mud, however we could escape up
the bank where the primroses were coming out
Coming out onto the dismantled railway everything improved on this relatively
straight and raised track. The only obstacles were trees blown down in the
recent storms.
The track continued past the junction we had taken on the Wey South path and we
reversed it past the pumping station.
Crossing the river once more above the weir, and the supply to the pumping
station. The old canal tunnel would have been around here somewhere.
Walking across the river Arun flood plain with its strange "solid" bridge, then
crossing the footbridge. Across the marshy area beyond and up to the A283
road.
Following the "old" road down to the White Hart pub and the "old" bridge. On the
other side we followed the main road up to the junction for the road to Stopham
church.
Up tot eh church with the daffodils coming out around the war memorial and back to the van parked on the verge.
