31 August 2022

Kirdford, Mens and back, Local

 Sue was going to drive Pete and Rachel over to Uckfield to do some more cleaning, and finishing up f the house there. Bertie & I were not invited so I came up with a walk from home ...  we would go down to Kirdford, then drop down to the Mens nature reserve. Cross through the reserve, then the next two plantations before turning back north returning along the route I used to go to Petworth.

Leaving home and taking the well trodden path to Orchard Cottage, and along the bridleway beside fox cottage past Walthurst farm residential conversions and down to the reservoirs. keeping to the same line down to Chandler barn.
Beyind the house we dropped down through Barkfold Rough and beside the horse fields down to the river crossing.
From the buildings at the bridleway junction, we followed the driveway down to the back road. Along the road and south at the t junction.
To avoid going down the A272 we took a diversion through Brownings copse on a green lane that came out on another back road.
turning back towards the A272, and then the bridleway through Croucham's copse. The path had been recently renovated and although the notices were still up, there was no barrier and lots of hoof and foot prints on the path.
The path crossed the A272 opposite Bulchins Farm - A place I remember form picking up a number of old farm gates with Steph for the Joust a few years ago. Then down the driveway
Into the Mens reserve, as the path wound through the tress and undulations.
The path emerged beside Crimbourne house, where it continued up the driveway to Hawkhurst Court. (Although we got told off for walking on the grass outside the stud by some jobsworth).
Through Hawkhurst court and down the road beyond back into the Mens.
The track pushed further into the woods, and dissolved into a dirt track.
Leaving the woods at a collection of houses called Bedham, then re-entering the Menswith a steep climb up a grassy bank.
The climb in the woods became more steady, until it came out at a back road 
At the road we joined the Serpent trail and crossed into Flexham Park plantation. The track maintained a steady level across the hill after a small climb at the start.
The trees harvested last year were growing back, but still gave views across to the south downs. The logs were harvested for fencing and palings as we could see from the timber stacks.
The track crossed Riverhill lane and entered Brinkshole heath. The Serpents way curved away from our track as we stayed parallel to the edge of the permissible area working around to the top (NW) corner
In the corner we escaped down the lane to the A272, and across it onto Blackhouse Lane - this was the route I used to walk to Petworth. As it dropped down we got views across to Dunsfold and Hascombe hills.
Walling up the lane was a little contained so we took a diversion west into Pondtail copse on a wide green track.
The track came out of the copse beside a lake - man made - tightly fenced off. We went around the lake and over the end before climbing up a harvested field beyond.
Over the top of the climb we continued into Warren wood.
We came out of the wood and crossed a farm lane continuing into another harvested field - this time of greens - The path itself was obliterated, and definitely was not on the line of grass. At the far end there was a sign post and bridge but completely overgrown and the bridge sunk in brambles.
We jumped the dyke and made our way around the following field instead of straight across, then into a small wood or wide hedge. Beyond we came to another harvested field and no track, but could see the post on the far side. However as they were working in the field we walked around the edge.
Leaving the field we followed a green lane up between the fields until we reached the driveway coming past Elkham farm and on to Crawfold farm.
The drive ended at the farm and we bypassed the yard through a paddock, and on to the farm ponds (presumably fish as they were covered with netting). Beyond the ponds we climbed up the scrubby field beyond to the trees on the skyline.
Over the ridgeline and into the field  beyond ... the path follows the edge before jumping over the middle. The path then continues through a grass field vacated by sheep, before coming out on the driveway for Parsonage farm.
Back in Kirdford we stopped off at the village shop for lunch ... mainly for the seating, but we were temped by a piece of orange cake to compliment the sandwiches.
After lunch we returned home up on a well travelled route past the playing fields then across hollands heath before going up the track past Wephurst.
finally back past Orchard cottage and home.

29 August 2022

SBP to Rowlands Castle, South Downs

 There was a section of the Sussex Border Path above Rowlands castle that I had not completed, I planned to park in the forestry commission car park at Havant thicket then work our way through the town to reach Stanstead forest, then across the forest to West Marden. from here following the bridleways in a dog leg around Compton, before heading due north up to the South downs. Along the SDW to pick up the SBP where we had left it earlier in the year, then back down the SBP to Chalton. Continuing due south on the same path to return to Rowlands Castle, and through the maze of streets to return to the car park.

The car park was off the B2149, in a recently renovated area of the forestry commission woods, however the barrier height was very tight for the van, and I really should have left it outside. Leaving the car park and zigzagging through the housing estate and across the end of the golf course to the club house car park.
Negotiating more of the maze, along a back entry and out by the railway station and bridge.
The other side of the rail line, we followed the Finchdean road until we reached the path into the Stanstead forest. Taking this trail and heading up the path that angled across through the forest to its north east tip.
The path cut across the grid pattern of fire break tracks. Every so often there was a wide vista track. One of these should go down to the big house, however there was no obvious clear view.
The forest changed and became more open as we reached the top - more likely the subject of a prior years harvesting.
Unfortunately the path did not continue across the road and we had to head up to the edge of the village of Forestside, where we could continue along the top of the forest.
Leaving the forest to cross grass and crop fields to reach a byway
Along the Byway and the back road it merged with until we could take a farm drive way up to the bridleway.
The bridleway followed a green lane with high hedges where the only views were of the mountain bikes streaming past.
The bridleway made a wide turn into a patch of woodland, initially yew glades the  thinned out to another green lane bounded by hedges
Finally coming out of the woods, with views up to the South Downs ridge. The path crossed a pasture field then cut across to this tree as it merged towards a back road.

Following the back road down to meet the B2146, then turning north to follow it for a short while until we could go up the farm drive for Hucksholt farm, and thence onwards on the farm track.

Climbing up Booker down with views up to the south downs ridge, then turning directly to the ridge 
The path became overgrown alongside round down, and we escaped to the side of the field alongside, and to rub salt into it, we had to negotiate a barbed wire fence to get onto the SDW.
At the junction of SDW and SBP we turned south and followed the driveway for Foxcombe farm. After passing the farm it continued as a gravel track.
The SBP continued up a narrow path climbing West Harting Down into the trees. Inside the woods we wove in and out of tracks and paths, with very little signage.
After descending a little we picked up a firebreak track and followed it until the SBP cut off down a very rutted and overgrown track - looking at the map we could have continued on the firebreak in a loop around.
The path left the wood along a boundary path, and beside some horse fields.
The SBP merged with the Staunton way and crossed the railway line by a footbridge. On the otherside there was a surprise steep climb up Charlton peak.
After the effort of the climb there was a gentle descent to the village of Chalton, and we paused for refreshments opposite the pub, and in front of the church.
Behind the church we came out into a corn field with three radiating paths. Picking the one heading due south up Chalton down.
The views back up towards the south downs ridge behind us.

Onwards along the top of Chalton down, with views across to the Isle of Wight.
The SBP (still twinned with the Staunton way) worked its way around the edge of fields close to the top of the ridge heading to the village of Finchdean.
The final approach down to the village was beside a ploughed field and along the hedge at the bottom. Into the village on a back road turning right at the pub
Leaving the village and climbing up treadwheel road before continuing on the green lane when the road turned away.
Through the fields up to the outskirts of the town of Rowlands castle, then turning away around the edge.
Crossing the railway line once more and back onto Finchdean road towards the town. Picking up with the outward bound trace where we left the road into the Stansted forest.
Once in the town we skipped the maze of back routes we used on the outward journey and went across the town green and down the road to the B2149, although we did skip through a grave yard to cut off the corner.
Along the B2149 and back to the car park with thee offending barrier. The way out was a bigger bump than going in, however it just tapped the solar panel junction covers.