I had an appointment in Petworth, so decided I could walk there and back.
Looking at the map showed a reasonably direct route passing through Kirdford.
The initial section followed the well trodden route past Wephurst Park through
Wephurst Furze.
Still on the lanes we had passed through on a number of our earlier walks, I
turned past a dog agility park and into a field leading into Great Common.
Passinghte football pitch and the new developments to come out at the T junction
with Plaistow road. I crossed over and walked down the lane to Parsonage farm.
Before getting to the farm I turned down a farm track, and then again onto a
footpath down the side of a sheep field.
Crossing the next grazing field and over a lane into a wheat field. There were
supposed to be two paths in this field however there was only one obvious in the
high crops.
Along the side of the crops to get back on track, through a gate and into a
pasture field, with views across to the hills around Petworth.
Climbing up to Crawfold Farm, past some netted ponds (fish farm?) and the
Weston's vans to join a chalky lane running past a wheat field with a large
meadow flower border.
The lane roller coasted past Medone farm, before rising to the copse beyond.
The lane (now tarmacked) passed through No Man's Land, and up to Oldham Copse.
The high hedges and slight winding of the lane reduced the views.
Across the A272 and picking up the lane opposite that climbed up to Brinkshole
Heath
Once on the open access part of the heath I found a footpath along the edge past
a house, before delving into the trees and bracken.
From the top of Brinkshole Heath I dropped down a sunken lane and back up to the
small tree copses on the top over looking Petworth below.
Dropping down the other side into the fields in front of the town. The path
drops to the stream bed before climbing up the other side to the town and
following the lane out to the main protestant church..
Opposite the church, I walked down the cobbled lane to the main square and my
appointment in an office off it.
After my meeting I had a little diversion to the hungry Guest shop for a few
supplies then begin the reverse journey home.
Following the A283 past the roman catholic church (just to keep options open)
where I dropped around the side and through a gate to arrive at the top of the
dip and climb to get back to Brinkshole Heath.
Over the top, and up the sunken lane into the woods.
To one side of the path was a grave stone for a dog before I was back in the
bracken enclosed paths.
Down the track to cross the A272 and onto Blackhouse Lane, with its high hedges
still not providing any views.
Just past No Man's Land I deviated from the outward track and turned right into
Medhone copse, which led through to Petsalls copse.
Pleasant walking through the woodlands as the track meandered up to Gandersgate
lane
Turning onto a grassy track up the side of a field, then turning onto a farm
track towards Gownfold farm.
Just before the farm a zigzag past a horse field before leading through the
hedge and onto a path between a hedge and a fence.
The path came out on the back road into Kirdford, and past the Half Moon
Back on the familiar local trails, I followed the lane up to Heron's farm,
before continuing on the trail through the woods.
The last time I was on this path it was super muddy, however now it was rock solid. A zigzag around the agility course and we were back on the outward bound trail.
Just a return up the track through the copses and past Wephurst park and the familiar return home.
Very hot day that needed two pints of liquid to satisfy the thirst - it was probably good that Bertie had stayed home.
