Harting Down Around, South Harting

We woke to a hazy but promising day, so I took the opportunity to go out as the forecast for the following days was for showers. I chose to go back to the South Downs - Harting Down in particular and drop down the south side to Hooksway then across to West Dean estate to go back up to the South Downs Way. Dropping down to Didling before crossing the fields to East Harting via Elsted, then back up to the SDW and return to the car park.

We parked in the NT car park on Harting Down (no barrier, but you have to display your card). Then across the grass field and through the fence onto the Down. On the other side we dropped down to the col before continuing into Whitcombe Bottom

Along the valley of the bottom coming out at a crossroads of paths, and up the opposite side climbing Little Round Down.

The SDW takes a big loop here around Beacon Hill, and we followed it around until it turned back to the ridge. Here we followed the driveway of Telegraph house, south

Whent the driveway turned towards the B2141 we continued south on a path beside fields and then a byway that came out on the side road leading to Hooksway and the Royal Oak pub. Here we took an unlikely looking path (all the others were tracks) that climbed into the trees of Phillis wood

The path left the woods at the top of a rise then over the top and down to Monkton farm (just a barn these days), before following the farm driveway that led down to Yewtree cottage and a back road.

I had been intrigued by a bridleway that ended at the edge of Linchball wood, and wondered if we could get to it over a lane, if not we would walk around, but when we got to the bend in the road there was a sign showing public access was allowed. This dirt track led into the woods alongside the timber stacks from recent tree felling.

At the multi track junction there was a sign pointing kind of into the woods, that we followed as it was in the right direction for the mystery path. Along side this was where the recent tree harvesting had occurred

Climbing through the trees I soon realised we were diverting from the direction of the track and heading into the heart of Linchball wood - we had missed where the real path veered off slightly. It still looked like a forest track, so I assume that others had made the same mistake. In the woods we continued along the path that looked used and it turned across the slope the meet up with the true path at a junction. From here we continued north onto the SDW.

Up on the SDW we turned West and walked alongside the Linch Ball with clear views both north and south

I could not resist a panorama view north

At the dip before Didling Hill we turned onto a farm track that dropped over the north side of the ridge , then coming off it onto a path that dropped straight down (lots of recent tree maintenance where the path had been cleared)

The path exited the trees into sheep fields that we followed down past a small church and into Didling village

Out the other side and into more fields - these were far more soggy that the southern side was. We turned west and crossed several sheep and crop fields to New House farm where we picked up the driveway.

Along the much drier driveway until it met a back road. Here we crossed over and went back into the fields and squelched along to Elsted.

The village was on the top of a rise and we climbed up to the edge then followed a path around the outside passing the end of gardens and the Three Horseshoes pub. A steep set of steps led down to a back road that we followed until we could cross into the fields. Unfortunately there was a stile we could not cross and so we retreated and went through a farm gate instead.

Into the fields to cross to the edge of East Harting. this was hard going as it was so boggy - not muddy but wet and sloshy. The final field was fenced off with sheep, and we walked around the edge and onto the back road.