For today the weather was changeable with potential for rain later, I wanted
to go for a short walk while teh rain held off and selected a wander around
St. Leonards Forest. However all the car parks were barriered, so I borrowed
Sue's car and parked in Leechpool Wood car park just off the B2195 in Horsham.
Leaving the car park heading down to the river, and a junction of tracks. The
map showed a route onwards, however there was only a fence, so we turned along
the river on the opposite bank.
Along the duckboard path until it came out on Hamper's Lane, which we followed
along passing a covered reservoir, up to teh point where it turned towards St
Leonards park house.
This track disappeared to the skyline straight - one of the old driveways to the
big house. Across a back lane and the track continued dropping to the river
below.
At the bottom was Roosthole Pond - anglers only - then up the other side,
alongside Alder Copse. then an S curve around a field of sheep down to Golding
Lane. Along the lane then down Hammerpond Road.
At the car park at the bottom of the forest area we moved into the forest, then
along the main track heading up to Mick's Cross. this was deep in the forest and
overgrown on both sides.
At Mick's cross we turned to go down a bridleway, however we missed a second
turn and had to take a diversion through the forest on a minor trail. This
eventually merged back onto the bridleway at the edge of the forest.
Down to a stream and over the bridge, while Bertie took a swim.
We climbed up through the woods to cross Grouse road and enter the fields
beyond. Here it followed a farm track across a crop field.
A sharp turn and over a ford - another opportunity for Bertie to cool down. then
along Carterslodge Lane, including a diversion through teh woods.
Up over the hump in the land, still on the lane, where the view opened up across
to the A23.
We turned off the lane and into a cow field. The path followed the long thin
field into the bottom corner.
Into the woods, popping out to a grass fields before re-entering the woods.
Climbing up the fields to a farm track leading past Newstead farm on the top.
down the cow fields on the other side, dropping once more to a stream. The
other side the track squeezed between a recently cut holly hedge and a field
fence
The track came out at a back road which we followed looking for a path into
the scrubby woods on the left. Eventually finding a trace we followed it
through the woods and bracken. Across a second back road we crossed onto
heathland leading to Blindman's wood.
Through the woods and the undulations, before climbing up to come out at a
back road. We followed the back road to the Dragon pub. where we turned down
Forest Road - dodging the traffic
We reached the driveway leading to an animal sanctuary and the gate back into
St. Leonard's forest.
Back on the wide gravel tracks of the forest - straight to teh edge of Forest
Grange then a sharp turn down. At a conjunction of tracks we followed the
bridleway as it left the gravel tracks and took to the paths in the woods.
Leaving the forest again and into some kind of open area with obstacles. We
continued along the track as it narrowed once again.
A scrubby open area as we returned to the driveway to the big house of St.
Leonards Park.
Up the drive passing the big house - now sub-divided into several separate
residences. Then down a twitten at the end of the road, dropping to the Leechpool stream.
Across the bridge and up the other side onto the "river Walk" heading back towards the car park. Part way along we cut up through the woods to the path at the top.
Coming out into the car park and the along to the waiting car.
