The van needed to go back to the garage again today - this time to replace a
coil spring (front offside) - not sure if it was related or impacted by the
wheel bearing worn out. Bertie and I would walk home from the garage by a big
circuit by following the canal down from Loxwood to Pallingham manor, then
turn back north, through the Mens up towards Kirdford, before taking the
shortest route home.
We left the van at Kennards and took the twitten opposite the surgery back down
to the canal centre to pick up the Wey south path, trying to keep going past all
the distractions of dog walkers and Bertie reading all the messages.
We tracked the canal back along the route we had taken in the last week or so.
At Drungewick Lane we crossed over onto the tow path spur that continued to the
lock beside Drungewick manor
I had not been along this section before (as it is a dead end), but today was an
opportunity to go and have a look. The canal was very well looked after on this
section despite the fact it is very little used. We reached the lock and turned
around going back to the lane.
On the way back we could look up to the track we had walked a week ago. back at
Drungewick lane we continued on the Wey south path where it followed the lane
away from the canal (due to it being inaccessible).
The WSP turns off the lane beside a residence and into the woods of Drungewick
Copse. Here we found the first of the Bluebell swathes now out.
Out of the woods and across the fields to Malham farm moving parallel to the
canal over to the left.
Beyond Malham we continued in the same direction on a farm track until it ended
and we circumnavigated a field. we then followed a very muddy track that took an
S curve through a wood before coming out on the B2133.
After a small section down the road, we then followed a driveway down to Loves
farm. At the end of the lane we took the path around the end house through a
field. Then down the bank to the canal.
Back on the canal towpath, Bertie enjoyed having access to the water again. We
then followed the tow path along past a lock and lift bridge down to the
A272.
Across the A272 and into the flood plains beyond. he canal is just a trace here,
but the path follows the general location.
the damp ground and the Hawthorne blossom combining to look wintery then out
into the final meadows before Lording's Lock.
Lording's Lock combination of aqueduct, lock and water wheel. Beyond the lock we
cross teh river Arun then picked up the canal towpath again towards the flood
gates under a bridge.
We followed the canal until we reached the haybarn farm, where teh WSP left the
canal trace and followed a farm track that cut off a bend. Toat tower on the
skyline.
The WSP crosses teh canal and heads away as this next section is not open to the
public. We followed into the fields beyond Pallingham Manor farm, then turned
away from the WSP to make our way back home.
Across a back road and into the outskirts of the Mens reserve. Here the path was
very chewed up and muddy, however we worked our way through the woods and across
a field before going back into the reserve.
Leaving teh Mens where we touched teh A272, there was a short section along the main road before picking up a back road towards Kirdford. The back road was busier than expected and we took a short cut across some horse fields, however the fences were all dog proof and Bertie had to be lifted over each stile!. Back on the back road up tot eh junction with the Kirdford road, before continuing down Barkfold manor tradesman's road. We were now on one of the return routes from Kirdford that we followed up through the fields and tracks back home.
These tracks had some very muddy sections, before arriving at the Bluebell walk .
