We had arranged to meet up with Noeleen today for a stroll and long chat, and
I had planned a figure of eight walk centred on the Leith Hill Tower. the
arrangement was to park in the Windy Gap car park, then follow the NT Woodland
trail from the car park, down past Leith Hill Place then back up to the tower.
From the tower we would follow the Heathland trail down to the Coldharbour
cricket Pitch car park, before coming back along the ridge, finally return to
the car park down the cycle route to Cockshot Farm.
Leaving the car park we dropped down to find and pick up the Orange trail signs.
Initially freelancing through the woods, however we crossed the trail beyond a
house fence, and followed it downhill.
The track descended past several ponds, before going along the Lime Avenue below
the walled garden.
Across a back road, and in front of Leith Hill Place past a series of Hah-Hahs
with views to the South Downs (in the morning mist)
Across the fields and into the woods beyond
Then turning up hill through the rhododendron woods and the Leith Hill House car
park up to the back road beyond.
Where the back road met Leith Hill Lane, we climbed up beside a stone wall and
into the woods above. This then joined the wider track from Starveall Corner car
park.
The tracks all lead to the tower sitting on the top. Unfortunately the views
were slightly obscured by the low cloud.
We dropped down the other side of the tower summit, and onto the Heathland
trail. This took us around the north side of the ridge with views up to the
North Downs, and around the source of the Tillingbourne stream.
Around a large loop through the heathland and alongside the Coldharbour Cricket
pitch and car park
Circling back around the southside of the ridge with occasional glimpses to the South Downs.
Back at the major path crossroads, below the tower motte, we followed the cycle track back down to the back road beside Cockshot farm. From there a slight stroll to the car park down the road.
Time for lunch and a picnic beside the van, before it got too cold to hang around and we separated.
