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.
