The rain was due to come back later this week, so Bertie and I headed out
early, with the aim to walk along the Sussex Border Path starting once again
at Ockley train station. We would drop down to the path south, then follow it
over to Gatwick Airport, around it, continuing out to the M23 and down to
Copthorne. Still on the SBP down to Worth way, then back along it to Worth,
and Three Bridges. We would return to the van using the rail services.
We parked up in the spaces along the side of the station access road, paid our
dues at the machine then set off across the road below and down the twitten on
the other side of the tracks. Along Weare Street until we reached the path
through Knoll wood.
Finally exiting into open fields, although deep in the mist. Luckily we
remembered this element of the route from last time, through Knoll farm and down
to Osbrooks.
Past the manor house and over the fields to Bonnetts, scaring two monkjacks on
the way.
Reaching the SBP we turned east along the farm drive towards the A24. Crossing
over was a rush between the traffic and back into the grass fields.
Over the railway line (where we would return later in the day) and through Ridge
farm to the lane beyond.
Down the lane and back into the fields (the map showed a scramble track here,
but it no longer existed)
Onto Friday street passing this old house with interesting finials on the
garage. Along the track to Porter's farm
Beyond the farm we dropped into Horsegills Wood, along a leafy track eventually
bending out to the fields beside the wood.
Over a high stile with no dog access, and back into the woods. Down and up over
a stream, before crossing the fields and into the village of Rusper entering
beside the playing fields..
Through the village - luckily there was a separated walkway from the road - then
down a lane and into the parkland beyond. This seemed to be the local exercise
area with a number of unmarked paths going in various directions.
Leaving the parkland behind and crossing fields until we turned sharp left and
into the Furzefield Wood
Beyond the woods we had a short section on a back road before returning to the
fields. Another challenge here... the track left the field at a cow byre
.. a broken stile and again no dog pass ... straight into a deep mud swamp. we
traversed this mire gingerly before returning to the grass beyond. Luckily the
grass was still dewy wet and soon washed all the mud off our boots and legs.
We were now directly under the flight path, however because of the mist we could
only see the planes on the last few meters before landing.
The path through the fields (and more difficult stiles for dogs) came out beside
Russ Hill hotel. We had been here earlier in the year walking between Charlwood
and Capel. The path paralleled the road though the hotel gardens.
Across the fields dropping down to Charlwood, and finally seeing the Lowfield
Heath Windmill, hiding in the trees.
Approaching the village and passing through the churchyard.
Through the village and past the recreation ground, looking for a track leading
away from the road.
The side street mutated into a dirt track. This track turned sharply when it met
Pudding Lane. This lane lead very straight to the boundary fence of the
airport.
At the edge of the airport, there was a slim area between the public road and
the perimeter track, that had been "rewilded" beside the river Mole.
The SBP wound through this area around the north side of the airport, until it
reached the A23, where we crossed the river and followed the edge of the road
down to the North Terminal approach.
Things now got complicated ... we had to negotiate our way between the terminals
and out over the railway line. There were occasional SBP signs however we
followed the footpath link route between the two terminals.
Eventually we crossed under the A23 and wound through the various paths to the
edge of the railway tracks.
A narrow track with fencing on both sides lead up the tracks until we could
cross at a foot bridge. We were blindly following the GPS here as there was a
dearth of signs.
Away from the railway across fields to the B2036 on the outskirts of Horley
town.
A track parallel to the M23 spur led away from the airport, dry(ish) until it
crossed a farm track mud wallow. Then a section beside industrial units that had
a drainage issue and involved hanging onto the wire fence as we tried to stay
above the liquid.
Out on the back lane parallel to the true M23 past a number of scruffy and
rundown units, crossing under the flight path at the other end of the runway.
Over the M23 and down the track on the other side.
The track mutated into a path through the woods leading to a moat and house at
Burstow. From this hamlet we followed the back road to cross the B2037 and into
the fields beyond.
Beyond the Newhouse farm buildings we came to a ploughed field and no sign of
the track. Navigating via the GPS to the back road beyond, we followed it to the
Cherry Tree pub
A pause for a snack and water outside the pub, before following a back lane
around the outskirts of Copthorne circling around to reach the A264 at the East
end of the village.
Another dash over the busy road and into Copthorne Common following a wide track
through the woods. We followed this straight road southwards up to home farm
cottages where it became a driveway.
We continued in the southerly direction when the track turned away and dropped
down to go through the buildings of Rowfant House.
Down the driveway to the back road where we left the SBP and picked up the Worth
way heading in the opposite direction. This old railway headed towards Worth in
a green tunnel (a slight zigzag where we left the track bed but the replacement
track was more of the same). The Worth way led to a footbridge over the M23 and
into Worth.
Now in the outskirts of Worth, we followed the footpaths working back to the
rail bed, which we then followed to the rail line at Three Bridges.
Unfortunately there was no way to access the station form this side and we had to walk up to the A2220 and around the front of the station.
A ticket to ride and we picked up the first of two trains (to Horsham then separately to Ockley). Where we arrived as dusk was approaching. A long day.
