Eartham Circuit, South Downs

I have appointments for the rest of the week so we went out today even though it was cloudy, with a bitter wind. The plan was to walk around the southern side of Bignor Down. It gave us more options to park in the forestry car park at Eartham Woods (once again a barrier at 2m although there is a horse unloading area that the van could park in at a pinch). From the car park I planned to follow the Monarchs Way out to Selhurst park then down to Halnaker. From here working across to Eartham village then over to Gumber farm and up to the top of the downs near the Bignor down car park. Finally back to the car park via the Upwaltham hill and Eartham Wood.

After dropping Sue off at Brinsbury we continued on to the car park (lots of dog walkers) then followed the back road parallel wise in the woods until we could pick up the Monarch's Way track.

The MW followed a track through scrubby woods and across the A285, and into farm land of the Selhurst Park farm opposite.

The track followed field boundaries until it cut through the woods of Red Copse

We left the MW and turned south in Hanaker park woods following a forestry track in an arrow straight line

The forestry track mutated into a drive way through Halnaker park, and down to the village of Halnaker. here we crossed the A285 once again and into the fields beyond.

Now on the Halnaker Windmill trail (see previous visits) we followed through the fields and vineyards to turn down Tinwood land to the winery. 

The lane turned into a dirt track through Boxgrove common, then into the driveway for Van Diemens farm. Opposite this farm we turned up a path that was inthe hedge between fields.

The path wound around in Dyer's Copse along Thicket lane before climbing through Thicket Beeches wood.

The track left the wood into a turnip field climbing up Long Down with views over to the windmill.

Over the top of the down looking up to the south downs ridge and the wireless station on Bignor. A herd of deer ran through the field ahead of us.

Down a slope and through the village of Eartham, and out the other side along a farm lane.

The lane climbed up the slope and zigzagged around a second field, before turning up a sunken bridleway. 

The bridleway climbed up through Nore Wood, and circled around the flat(ish) top

Dropping down the opposite side to the edge of North Wood.

Looking over to the ridge of the south downs before following the wide track down the edge of the Nors wood to northwood cottages car park area (no barriers here)

Turning up the drive to the cottages and the farm beyond. We turned off this track to go up into the nature reserve area.

Up past the open barn shelter/ learning area, and down the other side before turning along the bottom of valley on a green track.

This track climbed out of the open access area and onto the drive for Gumber farm. We followed the drive up tot eh farm then took the path behind it that climbed through a sheep field and onto a farm track. This farm track ended in a large field, which had a path that joined up with the MW where it comes down form the south downs.

At the major junction of paths we left the MW again and followed a bridleway that traversed along the side of Sutton Down.

The path led into North wood at another major path junction. We continued int he same direction (there was a lot of straight tracks in today's walk). Through North wood and into Eartham wood.

Before reaching the end of the wood we turned down one of the forestry tracks (straight once again) as it dropped down to the MW. Just before reaching that trail we cut through the trees on a path that led back to the car park.

Billingshurst Circuit, Wisborough Green

 The forecast was for low cloud all day, however there was a layer of mist over everything this morning and I took a gamble that going to the downs would not improve it. So I planned a route along the canal and Billingshurst, with the aim to park in the sports field. from here up to Inglefield manor school then across to the canal. Down the canal  all the way to haybarn, before heading back to Billingshurst.

However.....  the car park at the sprots centre now has a 2.2m barrier, so I had to think on the move, and we parked in Wisborough Green opposite the cricket pitch. Then do a similar route missing out a section of the canal.

We parked the van in the layby beside the cricket pitch and then walked down the main road (A272) until we could reach the lane running down to Harsfold manor. Continuing in the same direction past the farm and onto the farm track throguh the fields down to the canal.

At the canal we turned along it goign south, until we reached the turn table bridge at Haybarn.

Ove the canal and alongside the big barn until we reached the farm driveway. Up the driveway to the road serving Lee Place House. At the crossroads of paths where the lane ends we continued straight on into grazing fields.

Staying high above the river Arun floodplain we passed Tanners farm and down its driveway to the B2133.

Across the road and through the fields before diving into Great Lordings Wood. This path came out beside the Sewage works gate then continued into the woods beyond. This finally came out at the A29 bypass for Billingshurst, where we leapt over between the traffic.

On the town side we followed a footpath through the suburb of Parbrook and along the back roads to the railway line, where we took the path behind the school playing fields. We came out opposite the station passing through a domesticated industrial park.

Over the level crossing and through the industrial estate on the far side moving parallel to the railway. At the end of the estate we turned over the railway by a foot crossing and into the fields beyond.

This bit has not yet been built upon (but for how long?) as we followed the path past Little Daux Farm. the Path merged onto the farms driveway that came out onto the A272. Over the road and into the estate beyond.

This new build had tarmacked the path which led up the side of the estate and past an old stone remnant ..  this was the remains of Hammonds Mill.

Around the back of the estate and down onto the next one seen over grassy area in front.

Here we joined our route from the other week, as it moved through the next estate and over the new bypass road. then through the fields up to Wooddale lane. A zigzag on the road before going through the stables and into the horse paddocks. Through the fields until we got into the woods or Prior's Furze.

Here we left pour previous track and continued up through the woods and across the ends of a couple of grass fields before entering Bishop's wood.

In the woods we turned towards Five Oaks and followed the track until it reached a driveway outside the village.

Along the driveway and across the A29 close to the roundabout. Down the path opposite to the farm beside Ingfield Manor School. Here we did a zigzag into a field and then back into some woods to cross a stream before coming out into fields once again.

The path followed the edge of the fields next to the woods (and the hidden stream). Eventually this led into Spar Wood

A soggy exit from the wood into a last field before a back road. At Okehurst we followed a farm lane/ driveway that led down to the canal

A foot bridge over the river and on to the canal. We turned to follow the canal for a short section

Reaching the next lock we crossed over the bridge and walked up the side of the sheep field to Paplands farm.

From the farm we followed the driveway up to the crossroads with the B2133 opposite the Bat and Ball pub. From here we had no real option but t follow Newpound Lane back to Wisborough Green and the van.