I wanted to pick up a clock from Midhurst, so worked out a short walk for the
morning on the way. The aim was to start in Fernhurst then work down towards
Henley common, then cutting across the lower slopes towards telegraph hill.
Picking up the new lipchis way going north towards Hollycombe steam collection
park, before turning through the woods to Linchmere. From here through Cognor
Wood to Marley Heights then back towards Fernhurst.
We parked down the one way road (church road) near the church at the end of a
line of cars. Returning to the centre of the village to cross the A286 and go
down Vann road opposite.
Leaving Vann road down Hawksfold lane, which soon opened out to horse fields
with views down towards Woolbeding Common.
The sun warming the frost off the fields beside the path before the hedges came
up to obscure the view.
At Hawksfold farm we turned down the side of the house into rough grassland
beyond - still frosted in the shade. Then into the woods beyond.
The sun shine off the frost in the field beyond - the path cutting across the
middle rather than around the side as per the map. Into Turner's Copse beyond,
climbing slightly up to a crossroads.
passing an interesting set of tumbled trees, before it opened out across another
horse field. Going up the drive beyond up to Whites lane.
Across the lane and down the driveway leading to Upper Lodge. at the gateway the
path forked off into the woods.
The path circumnavigated the house boundary and into the plantation beyond.
Below Telegraph Hill we turned onto the New Lipchis way, dropping down again,
and occasionally opened out views to Marley Common.
The NLW merged onto Whites lane (we had crossed it earlier) and followed it to
Upper North Park Farm. The farm has been domesticated and we were guided through
the gardens by two very noisy dogs.
Across the fields behind the houses and into Hartley Green Copse - recently
harvested, turning across into Taylors Copse. Following NLW up towards Elmers
Marsh.
Passing large distribution and voltage dropdown station beside the path.
Opening out onto Vann lane.
Crossing over and climbing slightly towards Stanley Common, then turning across
the slope to contour around
Deep in the trees of Parkgate rough following the contour around.
Finally arriving at Newlands Cottage, and a brief glimpse of Black Dawn.
Following the drive down to Linchmere Marsh.
A complex maze of paths led back up into Cognor Wood
Moving through the woods harvested in an earlier year, following several dirt
tracks contouring around Cognor Wood, before climbing and crossing to Moses
Hill.
Up to High Marley and the expensive houses.
A view point from the heights looking across to Black Down
Dropping down very steeply - so steep it was a welcome relief to reach the
bottom without falling over. then down the Vann common lane down towards
Fernhurst.
Before reaching the outskirts of the village we turned down a woodland trail that mutated into a twitten beside the school leading back to the A286
Across the road then around the back roads past the red lion pub beside the village green, before turning back down the church lane to the van. Then a quick change and off to Midhurst to pick up the clock before lunch in the car park there.
