The clouds that had been around for days were absent this morning, so I headed
off to try out a walk I was planning for the AAC. The idea was to start in
Southwater country park, head across the park and out into the woods towards
Trawler's farm. Then down to Shipley to pick up the red route through the
Knepp estate. First to the new castle, then down the driveway, picking up the
orange route to divert around the old castle, before re-joining the red route
to the estate shop and kitchen. From the car park along the red route above
Dial Post village and across to pick up the Bridle way on the west side of the
estate. Up the side of the estate and back to Shipley passing the windmill.
Leaving the red route and continuing to Dragon's Green where we would meet up
with the outward bound track. I planned to divert across the farm land here to
return on a more direct path to Copsale, rather than repeat the outward track
back to Southwater. This was because I needed to park away from Southwater as
their car park has a height barrier and the van would not fit under.
The small car park at Copsale was full of cars from the jogging mum brigade,
however, luckily, there was space beside it for the van.
Up along the Downs link railway track towards Southwater. Very straight up to
the point where it crossed under the A24.
Straight again along a track and over the backroad to the car park for the
Country Park. Here we took the path into the park passing the visitors centre,
and around the lake - following the dinosaur footprints. At the end of the lake
we climbed up the other side to the Worthing road car park.
Across the raod fromthe town centre and down a path past a lane of houses
leading into the woods. The path was boggy and muddy, as we negotiated the well
used tracks thorough the woods heading for the far corner.
the path cleaned up as we took an avenue of trees down to and across a field
Beyond the field it was back into the woods and another muddy path. The path led
to a farm track that led to Trawler's farm.
At the farm buildings we turned down a track going south, and past a barn this
turned into a path along side a field and through a small wood. Then we followed
a dog leg in the next field to take us slightly east.
A minor adjustment as we followed the wrong side of the hedge then down the
green track that merged into a driveway as we passed Renche's cottage. The drive
came out at the A272. We should have crossed over to a path on the other side,
however the path was blocked by two horses standing at the other side and Bertie
refused to go anywhere near them. As an alternative we walked along the road
past the football pitch to a driveway heading back to the other side of the
horse field.
The drive led to Greenstreet farm, where we continued south on a path around the
side of the farm and into a small plantation area.
Through the field on the other side and down to the back road leading towards
Shipley. At the edge of the village we picked up the red route around the
Knepp estate. along the edge of the houses through a field.
The other side of a small wood through a second field to a cross a second back
road before re-entering the Knepp estate.
Following the signs for the red route across the open grass land to the castle
driveway.
Normallthe the path cut across the grass to the gatehouse, however because of
the mud this was diverted down the driveway to the house then away to the
gatehouse.
Continuing along the driveway towards the A24, and across the end of the mill
pond.
Still on the driveway passing the point where the red route turned off as we
picked up the orange route. This turned off the drive way at the edge of the
park, looking down to the South Downs in the distance.
Following the edge as it curved around the fences until we could see the remains
of the old castle.
Up to the remaining wall and turning across to see the route across the flood
plain leading to the red route
Crossing the flood plain was wet, and especially muddy as we crossed the stream
bridges. then up the fields as the curved around to the houses on the back road
(and the swampy path leading to it)
At the back road we merged onto the red route once again. Following the back
road down towards the edge of the estate at the boundary with Dial Post. Here we
turned back on ourselves along the path to the visitors centre and car park.
At the visitors centre, shop, café, and restaurant we checked out the facilities
and then returned to the end of the access track. Opposite was the driveway to
New Barn farm, and the start of the routes.
Just through the gate we turned down the path that led out to a viewpoint
looking over the estate.
Alongside the edge of the village we followed a hardcore path along an avenue of
trees. However this opened out into grassland and very boggy.
A herd of horses crossed in front and Bertie had to make a detour to get past. A
farm lane provided some more solid ground, until the path moved away from it.
The path went around the edge of afield on a muddy track with large puddles.
This was the Stork field
Looking across to the tree with the Stork nests in it. There were some in
residence at high zoom.
After the dog leg around the storks, we continued west around Benton's place
farm
Across a stream and merging with a track coming across from the main farm.
Here were a couple of pigs rootling around.
and just around the corner several cows picking around in the bushes.
Turning back north along the Bridleway here that passed between areas of
grassland. No deer to be seen. The track had been improved and was relatively
dry.
We paused at Lower barn for a brief snack and drink before continuing up the
bridleway until it crossed the countryman back road.
Over the back road and onto a very muddy and swampy track leading up to the
windmill at Shipley. We had reached the end of the red route almost where we
started it.
Opposite the windmill we crossed into fields around church farm north. leaving
the field we crossed a hedge onto a farm track.
Up the farm track passed several fields until it reached the A272. This was the
same spot we had crossed on the outward journey. Over the road and down the back
road to Dragons green.
Through the village until we could go down a track through the trees to open
fields. We could look over the field to the track we had used earlier.
Merging back onto the outward track we followed the fields up to Trawler's farm. Here we turned off the outward path and turned down a lane to Woodgetters.
Across a back lane and into the woods on the other side. Here we did a dogleg through the Delph. Over a stream before climbing the other side.
A new housing estate had been built to one side, and we followed the path up following the marked footpath (despite the Private signs). This came out at the A24. We crossed over to the path on the central reservation.
Then down the track on the other side. This was a farm driveway through Pollardshill farm. The driveway continued out the other side to the back road leading to Copsale and our car park. The clouds had been gathering all afternoon and a light drizzle started as we reached the van - just in time.
