A damp start, but dry and cold however after yesterdays long walk I
needed something to shake out the stiffness. So a short local one was on the
cards and I worked out something around Stopham estate. The aim was to park at
the church, walk up the lane to Harwoods Green, then dog leg through Arundel
Holt into the edge of the Mens. Turning around here and heading back to
Bedham, before turning onto the Serpents way (original route). Leaving the
Serpents way to drop down to Limbourne farm and then back to the car park.
After dropping Sue off at Brinsbury we continued onwards to Stopham parking in
the layby outside the church. From here we set off down Woodcote lane passing
the winery.
Continuing along the lane through the estate until just before the end of the
lane, where we took the path leading into the trees of Chance copse.
Having climbed up the slope we turned in Fittleworth wood dropping down again -
the path was boggy but covered in leaves. a Slight rise took us out of the
wood.
A field of sheep was circumnavigated to the opposite corner, where we picked up
a farm or forestry track. we followed this track around towards Three Corner
Copse.
Another turn took us up a grassy swathe between horse paddocks and a farm in two
climbs with a pause in-between.
Looking back down the slope behind and over towards the south downs. Then
following the back road climbing to reach a bridleway into Arundel Holt. Here
the path descended again on another muddy track which needed frequent diversion
into the woods at the side.
The path continued through the holt until it came out beside a large garden and
house hidden in the woods. A climb up a bank and we were in a loose collection
of houses. This was where we would turn around and make our way back.
Dropping down a seep and slippy bank and across a stream. The other side climbed
out through some bushes to a similar heigh as we started.
through some wet but not soaking rough fields to get to Hammonds wood. Here we
were back on the leaf covered boggy tracks through the woods until we reached
the driveway leading up to Bedham farm.
Now on the original route of the Serpents way, we went through a crop field. In
the middle of the field the way onward was unmarked so we diverted around the
woods of Warren Barn Copse.
We left the Serpents way when it turned towards Fittleworth, and took the path
into FIttleworth Wood dropping down to a farm lane.
This green track was running with water and exceedingly boggy, so we struggled down it to Limbourne farm. Luckily from here the lane became better and more structured and hence back to the church layby and the car
