It was projected to be the hottest day of the year so far, with hard baked
ground and dry streams after days without rain. The monthly walk for AAC
members was a linear one from Ockley station down to Horsham, looping out to
the west, pausing for lunch at the small village of Walliswood.
Bertie and I used Sue's car to drive to Horsham (with the new van currently
undergoing drastic surgery to sort out a teething problem) via a diversion to
Plaistow to pick up lunch and breakfast. The idea was to get the train ride
element out of the way early rather than leaving it to the end of the day
(this proved highly beneficial at teh end of the day). We paid our parking and
walked up to the station and got our ticket, then on to the platform - from
our previous visits we knew this was platform 1. The train arrived after a few
mins and we jumped on board, and were soon joined by Tim who had come up from
Chichester - the train turned around here so we had several minutes to finish
breakfast before it left.
At Ockley station we crossed over to the car park and waited for the London
train to come, as well as several people who were parking there. The down train
arrived and followed the usual milling around form filling and general chat
before setting off.
Eventually we set off, down the station approach then across into the twitten
along the railway and across to a back road. Into Weavers wood before the
inevitable "wrong way" leader's navigation, gave us an opportunity to walk
through a meadow and back again.
Back on track we crossed over more grasslands to come out at a carpark for the
Vann festival - a local music festival. We past a windmill shell on the top of a
hill.
Negotiating the fields to bypass the festival we crossed more grass fields and
into the woods beyond. Over a river and up to more fields, with an element of
navigation questions with teh path under "blown over" grass.
At Eversheds farm we joined the farm driveway as it worked around to get to the
A29. The view across to Leith Hill tower. Over the A29 and down the driveway on
the opposite side. This followed the edge of woods down past Oakwood Mill farm.
Over a stream and into the woods leading to Chapel Copse, after several too
steep we finally found a stream that Bertie could dip into, much to his
pleasure.
The track through the woods passed beside the church, and into Kiln Copse beyond
over a number of bridges.
Beyond the bridges we continued through the woods to the village of Walliswood.
Here we dissembled to the pub for lunch - some to the village hall where there
was picnic benches (but no dogs allowed), and Bertie & I hid in the pub
garden finally succumbing to the temptation for a couple of pints (non
alcoholic).
Once everyone had finished we reconvened and returned through the woods until we
could drop to a back road heading towards Okewood Hill.
Down a lane that ended into fields (passing a loose dog that wanted to come with
us). Another route finding question across more grass fields with the path
hidden under blown over grass. Across a back road and down the drive to Monks
Farm. Beyond the buildings and still on a farm track which ended in a grazing
field ending at Dawes farm.
Past Dawes farm we crossed more grazing fields and over a footbridge to a drive
leading back to the A29. On the other side we went down a gravel drive past Pear
Tree farm to Northlands road. Down the road until a sharp turn where we
left on a bridleway.
Down the bridleway which mutated into a gravel track. At a crossroads of paths a
couple of people left to return to Warnham station. We continued on the track
around the big house of Warnham manor.
Down the manor driveway, until we could follow a path diagonally across a
scrubby field. Then a zigzag down a back road
Into the fields that seemed to be the quarters for the deer (they were not in
the deer park). Numerous gates in and out, before crossing bailing hill road.
Into Warnham court deer park - stick rules to staying on the footpath. This came
out onto Robin hood lane. Along the lane towards Robin Hood roundabout.
Just before the roundabout we turned off and through an underpass (Rookwood golf
course driveway). We left the driveway and followed a byway leading into the
urban sprawl of Horsham.
Through the residential area and a zigzag to cross the B2237 to gain access to Horsham Park. Through the park along the boundary path, passing the swimming pool and teh council buildings to come out opposite our car park entrance. Bertie and I left the group here as they headed towards the station. We changed boots had a drink and set off for a takeaway in Billingshurst. We found out later that there were some major delays on the rail network which proved difficult for the others to get back to Ockley and london.
