AAC Charlton Walk, South Downs

This months AAC walk was a circuit from Buriton, down to Charlton and back again. Bertie and I joined in meeting everyone at Buriton pond, getting there slightly before everyone else.

We left the car park going around the church boundary and along the fields until we could walk up the track whose nickname is Milky way. This climbs up to the south downs in a diagonal traverse.

Up on the downs we crossed over and then picked up the Staunton way, dropping down the other side passing a nature reserve where Jim works occasionally. The track comes out of the woods and onto the school drive.

Approaching Ditcham Park school we turned off the track and headed across to Downley Hanger. Dropping down a steep side to the bottom of the valley, before meeting a track at the bottom. 

Leaving the woods after crossing the Sussex Border path, we climbed up towards Ladyholt. We did cheat and climb straight up the slope avoiding the zigzag.
A short section along the Ladyholt drive and then across the freshly harrowed field with several zigzags down to Cowdown Lane.
Dropping down the lane, and a slight diversion along Staunton way until we cut across the back road and thence to the railway.

Crossing the railway in  very low tunnel, and then a diagonal climb up to Charlton Down - easier than straight up.

Up on the top of the Down and suddenly some wind for the first time today. Across a ploughed field before picking up the Staunton way return.

the path takes us to the village through the church yard, and our lunch stop at the Red Lion. Most disappointingly they only allow dogs in part so Bertie and I sat on our own for our sandwich and chips.
During lunch the weather had closed in and a fine drizzle had started. We gathered after the rest of the party had completed their lunch and rest (over an hour and a half today).

The return to Buriton was quite direct ... up the Staunton way to the QE2 forest ...  alongside a very large field, and into the edge of the forest.

We turned left and up the edge until a path could take us across to the main gravel track that goes back to the car park above Buriton. This path had a diversion around a new plantation, but generally followed the same direction.

At the Kiln Lane car park we crossed over the back road and dropped down through the chalk pits and back to the car park at the pond.

Back at the van and time for a snack before returning home.