Some very welcome rain in the morning left us kicking our heels at home,
so once it had brightened up after lunch we went for a stroll around the Knepp
estate. This area has been opened up by a "rewilding" project and is farmed in
a prairie manner with the livestock running free over the whole estate (well
separated by a road through the middle). The estate has several well marked
tracks through it and we would follow the red markers.
Parking in the layby in the village near the windmill, we walked down the road
to pick up the marked footpath into the estate by crossing a couple of
fields.
Crossing a road and into the estate where it all opened out beside the main
driveway.
Approaching the big house, the path veered away so you did not get too close to
impact the family. The path took us past a lodge and onto the southern
driveway
Along the driveway past the mill pond, which at first looked like a giant reed
bank, but eventually showed open water as we crossed the bridge. Bertie popped
in for a swim where the livestock had knocked the bank down.
Continuing down the driveway with the open lands to the side and views all down
to the south downs. Nearing the edge of the estate we turned off the road and
followed the fence around towards the castle remains.
The remains of the old motte and bailey castle sitting on its mound just off
the A24
Very little remains of the castle - just part of one wall.
Continuing parallel to the A24 we crossed the open prairie, and the "managed"
river Adur, before turning into the estate once more.
Back in the more settled part of the estate we passed a ruined barn and some
horse fields before approaching the main activity centre at New Barn Farm.
Beyond the farm the route stayed on maintained tracks rather than across the
grass land we had crossed so far. The route crossed over to the west side of the
estate.
There are several of these tree platforms around the route to allow for quiet
watching.
The route had changed since the last time I was in the estate and included a
longer loop to get onto the bridleway on the west of the estate, however it did
show us these two Tamworth pigs as we curled around
The return was up the wide bridleway - apparently there were a lot of deer over
here, however I suspect they had all been frightened off before we passed, and
it was not until the north edge of the estate that we saw some in the
distance.
Across the road and continuing on the bridleway back to the village and the van
passing the windmill.
