More cloudy at the start of the day, but very muggy, Bertie and I headed
down to Pyecombe after dropping Sue off at Brinsbury. I had mapped out a route
going up Wolstonbury Hill, then down the other side to Hurstpierpoint, and
returning to Wolstonbury Hill before a trip up to Jack and Jill windmills.
We parked up at the windmills since I could get under the barrier with Sue's
car. Then we headed down the northern side of the downs towards the village of
Clayton.
Dropping steeply down on a fenced off path through the grazing land. then
opening up as it approached the village.
Finally a track that led to the village and a back road between the recreation
ground and the strange truncated church.
Leaving the village we crossed the main rail line at the point it disappeared
into a tunnel, before turning down a back road.
Leaving the back road we picked up a bridle path leading up Wellcombe Bottom.
The track climbed up the side in sparse woodland.
We turned down to cross the Bottom over to the other side, on a track in the
grazing land. From the top of the slope on the other side we dropped back to the
back road we had left earlier. We followed this road - New way lane - around
past the driveway for Little Danny farm.
Leaving the lane we crossed more grazing land - Lamas and sheep - as we crossed
to then around the large house of Danny Park.
Danny house - now a retirement home, showing its heritage of many centuries
Around the side of the bog house and across more sheep fields heading towards
the town of Hurstpierpoint
Closer to teh town the path followed a field, then a short track, before
crossing the cemetery driveway and the track got narrower and more overgrown.
In the centre of the town the green to one side and our path leading back out to
the other side.
Back out into the fields beyond the town, initially a dog walk area for the
town, but more pasture we got further away.
Picking up a concrete farm track passing Wanbarrow farm, that turned into a
chalk track with views across to Wolstonbury Hill.
looping around to cross the B2117 through a bean field and then down the
driveway to Randolph farm, and continuing past the farm buildings.
Still on the track - now a green lane, we approached the Hill. DOwn adn into the
woods of Randolph's copse heading for Foxhole Cottages.
Past the cottages the path left the track as it turned and we continued to the
base of Wolstonbury Hill, and the awaiting cardiovascular workout.
At the edge of the NT area, we turned east along a bridleway in the woods below
the main slope until we were directly below the summit. Then straight up the
very steep slope (one step at a time).
The view south to the coast from the top as we paused to gain our breath and a
little refreshment.
Looking down to the coast and Brighton. Then we set off along the ridge.
We had to work around some cows blocking a gate on the path, so had to leap a
fence a couple of times to get around. Down the ridge to the woods looking over
to the windmills on the other side.
Turning down the track heading to the village of Pyecombe, then the road beyond.
Reaching the major road junction just outside it.
Across the A273 before it merged onto the A23 there was a parallel path that led
to the bridleway leading up to Middle Brow between wheat fields.
We had to cross parts of Pyecombe golf course at the top of the slope - it was
between us and the windmills on the skyline.
Around the end of the golf course and then turning towards the ridge and SDW, climbing up from Rag Bottom, to New barn farm where we met the SDW and dropped back to the windmills.
A slight diversion to a mobile café just before the windmills for ice-cream, then back to the car park.
