Whilst Sue was in the quilt exhibition Bertie and I went for a walk
around the area. Around the site, then down to the reservoir, across through
the college to Burstow Hill following the High Weald Landscape trail. after
this curved around to Fulling Mill farm then taking the path back to the
exhibition site.
We left Sue in the car park - parking was on the side of the road network around
the site - she went off to the main pavilion building and we went out the entry
road. Out on the road we walked up to the northern car park where we could
access the outer part of the site (the other side of the inner fence). Around
and down the back of the showground.
Leaving the showground and down the road beside the church - the bellringers
were practicing their peels. The road mutated into a track that ended at
Townhouse farm. From here we took a path down the fields facing the
reservoir.
The path continued through the water logged fields angling towards the dam end.
This then merged onto a tarmacked path that led into Ardingly college campus.
This was the High Weald Landscape trail, which we had been on earlier in the
week but slightly west.
The extended campus was spread all over the back of the hill. The path wound
through it with minimal signage (it was as if they wanted people to use another
path!). We exited to the back road crossing over to the playing fields on the
far side.
Through a car park and onto a track into the Standgrove woods. this was a really
muddy track and we often moved into the undergrowth at the sides.
After crossing a field we left the HWL trail to avoid a longer section on the
B2028. Instead continuing into Horse Wood.
Climbing up the other side of a stream through several fields ending up at Great
Lywood farm.
Along the drive for a short while before taking a path between fields. We
escaped into the last field to avoid a huge puddle on the path.
Then a small wooded area where the path dropped down to a stream then up the
other side to come out onto the B2028. We had a short section along the verge
until we could continue along the HWT that had come down the road from the other
direction. Down a drive/ lane
The lane curved around and up to Withyland - an isolated house, where the path
circumnavigated it to the right. A complex junction behind the house, and we
continued on the HWL trail into Hapstead wood. Again we had to divert into the
woods to avoid the very boggy path.
The other side of the stream we climbed again through several fields, with only
3 lonely sheep hiding behind a hedge. this led up to Pickeridge farm.
The rest of the sheep flock were all corralled for medication etc. next to the
farm buildings. After the farm we followed the driveway up to a back road. a
zigzag on the road until opposite Ludwell farm.
Dropping down through fields (first horse fields then just grass), to a stream at the bottom. We could see a herd of deer in a field beside the woods.
Into the woods to cross yet another stream before climbing up to a track where we left the HWL trail for the last time today. We turned back south around Fulling Mill farm. The track changed into a path/ farm vehicle track - muddy but not boggy.
A wetter section climbing up the final slope past Little London, and eventually coming out onto the B2028 opposite the showground. We crossed and up to the gate to enter and find the car. We only had a few minutes to wait for Sue, then some lunch before returning home.
