We woke up to heavy rain, however this was forecast to stop around
lunchtime, so I settled in to do a few odd jobs for the morning, then set off
for Petworth park after lunch. The rain had settled down, but there was a lot
of surface water lying around. Foxbridge lane was flooded at the Plaistow end,
and the river at Balls cross was only just about flowing under the bridge. We
parked up in the second Petworth car park - the one at the northern end of the
deer park.
The rain stopped as we were driving over, so we jumped out and set off across
the end of the deer park. The idea was to walk around the edge (the long way
around) back to the big house then cut into the town. We would then circle
around back to the car park using the path we had walked from home previously in
the year.
The view from the top of the park looking south.
We picked up the semi tarmacked track coming from the lodge that cut through the
park, with views down to the upper pond.
Staying on the slopes above the pond we continued around the edge of the
park.
As we moved towards the A272 at the southern end of the park we passed the deer
herd hiding up in a corner towards the village of Tillington. At the road we
stayed in the park and followed the wall along to the cricket pitch, where we
had to avoid cutting back to the big house.
As we passed close to the Upper pond looking across to the boat house, then up
to the big house.
To the left of the house there was an underpass that led to the cowyard and from
that to the town. We then picked up the path opposite the church leading down to
a path that cut the slope around the edge of the town.
Crossing the A283 and down the slope to where we had hoped to cross the little
stream. However this was now in flood and had broken through beyond the
footbridge. So we turned around and back to the town bypass path.
The alternative crossing the stream beside the town was also a probable, as the
bridge was in the middle of the water. Over to plan C ... back into the
park and complete the circumnavigation back to the van.
We continued on the bypass path beyond where we joined it and came out onto the
A272. Quickly across and down beside the A283 pat the pub and into the main
house car park.
In the car park we turned right along the side of the parking spaces until we
came up to a locked gate - no way back into the park from here. So we followed
the stone wall back to the big house where we knew we could get back in close to
the underpass we had left it.
Back in the park we headed once more for the upper pond, then angled around on a
direct line towards the top car park.
Our track took us past the wet and boggy lower pond, before the final rise up to the car park and the van waiting for us. A bit of redirection on the hoof, however a good bit of fresh air.
