The sun was out this morning, so was calling out for a walk, before the clouds
come in later. I worked out a route up on the downs (to be away from the mud
lower down). The idea was to park in the Kithurst car park, then do a couple
of loops, first a small one to the west then a larger one to the east, using
tracks w had not been on. I was also going to try out my barefoot boots, and
the shorter loop would give an opportunity to call it off without going too
far.
We drove up to the Kithurst car park and parked in the barriered area up on the
south Downs ridge. Then off along a track heading south over to the other side
of the ridge, first through a cabbage field. Over the top and angling SW going
down through a stubble field or two.
a final crop field as the path ended at a small wood with a slight zigzag.
From the wood a sharp turn back up towards the ridge along a path between two
hedges. The path was aimed at the top of Rackham Hill.
Just below the summit we peeled off left to meet the SDW following it back to
pass the car park.
We continued along the SDW - the barefoot boots were working well apart from
being a little wet. We followed the SDW up and over the back of Kithurst Hill
aiming for the car park at Chantry Post.
To the South the windmills were lit up over the sea looking as if they were
floating above a smog layer.
On past the car park and up the slope of Sullington Hill, then turning south
through a harvested field of stubble.
the path went along the side of the field, before doglegging to pick up a
continuation through grass fields over and between some rolling hills.
The field path ended at a line of trees where it mutated into a chalk track that
followed the trees down to a dip.
A steep climb followed the dip which then contoured around a shallow hill to
come out on the Michelgrove lane (driveway). We turned up the tarmacked driveway
up and around a curve.
Up to the base of Harrow hill, before the path left the driveway and angled
across the side of the hill to a ridge line.
The other side dropped gently down over grass land to Lee farm. Back on the
driveway once again up to the farm yard.
From the farm yard we turned up a farm track heading back up to the downs ridge
above us. A small zigzag took us up alongside a hedge of trees.
After the trees stopped we angled across grass to meet the first path of the day
where it rolled off the top of the ridge.
A short drop back down to the car park and a coffee. We said goodbye to a red kite who had followed us for the second half of the day and headed home.
