The forecast was for a sunny day, however the early morning was shrouded
in freezing fog, as we left for a walk on the South Downs above Duncton. The
idea was to walk over to Bignor Hill carp park via a serpentine route, down
Stane street to Gumber farm before parallel to last weeks walk dropping down
to Slindon. Back up through the estate and national trust lands to Upwaltham,
down and up to cross the A285 reaching the south downs again to return to the
car park.
We parked at the view point car park, that was still fogged in, and climbed up
towards the chalk quarry, crossing over the drive and continuing alongside a
grass field.
Opening out into the grass field and escaping into the sun (just), before
dropping down to cross the A285 below Duncton Down.
Behind the farm we climbed back up Barlavington Down along a green lane crossing
over the ridge into Northcomb wood.
[part way down we left the lane to cut straight down through the Beech woods. On
the way we passed this shattered tree ... two huge parts had broken off
creating a lot of collateral damage.
Deep in the fog on the north side of the downs, we followed a back road (Folly
Lane) and then a bridleway - which was more river than track, before
re-ascending up to the downs on a deep cutting that climbed gradually
Arriving on the ridge above, and escaping the fog into bright sunshine.
Continuing along the ridge to the masts on Glatting Beacon.
Looking along the South Downs, with the clouds hanging in the valleys and the
tops peeping through.
From the Bognor Hill car park we picked up Stane street and followed it down
looking over to the south coast beyond Chichester
We left Stane street at Gumber farm (a NT property that can be stayed in, and a
bothy). Then down the driveway to Warren barn, where we cut up through the trees
to fields beyond.
here we were parallel to last weeks route but over the fence instead of walking
up the bog open field... a poorer option. At the bottom of the field we turned
down Butt lane past Downe's barn.
We cut down a path to a back road at Courthill Farm, lookign up to the folly on
the hill above. We continued on the back road up to Northwood NT car park.
From the car park we took the bridleway along the edge of North Wood, passing
the site of the old Slindon airfield (luckily the aircraft of WW1 did not need a
large runway!).
The track rose gradually up through North Wood to re-cross Stane street at a
large six track crossroads
Continuing uphill climbing to Upwaltham Hill and finally leaving North Wood
Exiting into the fields above Upwaltham house, beside a memorial to a Dakota
flight that crashed there. Dropping down to the A285 beside the farm of the same
name.
We lost the path in the farm and accidentally went through some gardens to get
out to the road, crossing up to the C16 church.
Up again - this time on a chalk track up north down.
A sharp turn alongside a wood and past a second memorial, this time to a
Lancaster of 617 squadron, Laid out similar to the last one.
Just beyond the memorial we turned into the woods coming out on top of the downs
ridge, with the fog still pilled up beyond.
Across a grassy swathe and down the path on the north side of the Chalk quarry
to get back to the car park.
The car park was still in the fog as we settled in for our picnic lunch.
