It was cold overnight, and the temperature was still -4.5 when I got up,
but the skies were clear and a promise of sunny skies later. So Bertie and I
headed off to Upper Beeding. The idea was to walk along the north side of the
downs ridge to Poynings then climb up the hill in front of Devil's dyke,
returning along the ridge to the the west.
Our usual car park just outside the town off a roundabout had a large horse
trailer selling carvings in it, so we reverted to plan B - a huge U-turn.
Continuing on down the A283 to the Shoreham bypass, a brief dalliance in the
outskirts of Shoreham before turning up Mill Hill lane passing the reserve car
park continuing all the way up to the one beside Beeding Hill where the lane
does a sharp right hand turn.
Parking in the NT spaces, and sheltering from the biting wind until ready, then
setting off down the Byway down to Upper Beeding town.
The byway was very slippery and we were surprised to meet a 4x4 coming up (very
slowly) but it seemed to find traction. The lane ended at the main road (A2037),
which we crossed over and started to meander through the strrets in a generally
northern direction.
Once out of the conurbation the road we were on turned into a lane heading into
the flood plain for the river Adur.
Luckily everything was very frozen and we had no difficulty negotiating the
boggy sections, although Bertie did go for a shortcut over a frozen pond.
Everythign was very flat here as we walked to the river
Here we turned away and up a slight gradient heading towards Horton Wood, with
views behind over towards Chanctonbury ring.
Approaching the village of Small Dole and the we ran into the first of our horse
related issues... the path ended at a pair of locked gates, which we had to
climb over both. Across the main road and down sand lane to South Tottington
Sands - a rambling cattle farm.
Beyond the farm with views down to the Downs and having to detour around loose
cattle (but only a little)
Then the second horse related inconvenience.. Getting past Truleigh Sands
- the path went across numerous horse fields all with difficult stiles or broken
gates etc.. Until we finally approached The woods of South Furze field.
All changed in the woods with a very clear path, opening into the same across a
large field with views down to the downs.
Now heading east across grass fields generally following the snow marked
track.
A serpentine route around Brook House and we returned to the fields, this time
with vies across to Newtimber Hill. Then along a lane lading to Poynings
Last time we were here this field was full of sheep, now it was the local
toboggan slope, leading up to the houses and across the lane beyond.
Approaching the downs, into the shadow of the slope. Once the climbing started
it was a seemingly endless set of winding stairs.
Still climbing stairs - Bertie way ahead of me, until we broke out to the tundra
above, where the slope eased, but only because we were traversing rather than
direct climbing.
Looking along the ridge towards the masts of Truleigh hill. One final direct
climb and we broke out to the sun on the top plateau.
Artistic photos as we reached the sun.
Walking along the top past the pub and the old fort, before crossing Fulking
Hill.
Looking north across all the fields we walked on the way out.
Crossing Perching Hill, and around Edburton Hill, before dropping into the
valley for the climb up to the masts on Truleigh Hill.
Looking south the sun was shining on the sea around the wind turbines out
there.
The final angled climb up to the masts, and past the farm buildings
Then down the other side passing the Youth Hostel, before we took a detour (to
get off the road) that went across a field lookign over to Chanctonbury Ring.
Just over the edge of the ridge we turned west again and traversed above a long
valley
The valley continued with a sharp curve we had to work around, past a field of
long horn goats (Bertie just ignored them).
Continuing to contour around the valley just below the edge of the ridge, we finally came to a deep track/ path coming up from the quarry below. We followed this back up to the car park, arriving right beside the van.
