The sun was out and the sky clear when we woke up, so I determined that despite
the recent rain we should go for a walk on the South Downs. However by the time
we were ready to go out it had clouded over and on the journey south it rained
slightly. I parked up at the top of High Titten in Amberley where the road ends,
before Bertie and I set out along the South Downs Way.
After the initial climb up to the Tumulus, where we had to wait as a flock of
sheep came from Downs farm, an down the track I was going to use. So quick
change and we continued on the SDW climbing into the mist (memories of the last
trip to Austria!). The path was slimy with mud on chalk
Up on the summit plateau as we passed Rackham Hill in the cloud and on to the
woods beyond.
Still on the SDW we passed the Rackham hill car park (in the trees), and climbed
up the other side continuing to Kithurst Hill.
Passing Kithurst Hill we could see the car park at Chantry Post. Still on a
slimy path with puddles and muddy sides.
After the car park we continued on the SDW over the rolling top of Sullington
Hill before splitting off from it at a barn. This new bridleway turned away from
the SDW towards the wood - Highden Beeches.
After the wood the path merged onto a driveway from Cobden farm (local shooting
estate) which we followed until it turned away.
Back on bridleways we continued in the same direction over a slight hill from
which we could see the A280 along the side of the hills beyond.
We turned sharply right when we reached the road and followed the Monarch's Way
which climbed over the rolling hills.
Over the hill and the MW crossed a ploughed field (sticky mud), dropping down to
a dip before climbing the other side in full mud. Crossing over Longfurlong Lane
and we followed the driveway down to Myrtle Grove farm (minor industrial units),
and out the gravel track beyond (much better under foot)
Now on the driveway to Lee farm, we followed it as it twisted around, before
cutting over another ploughed field (this was less sticky and better drained)
that led to the skyline.
Out of the ploughed field into a grass pasture that dropped down to the barns
then the driveway again to Lee farm. Through the farm and onward on the farm
track
Now on the farm tracks cutting over the rolling hills on the southside of the
downs as we worked over to get back to the west. One steep descent down to a valley before climbing up the other side on the track we diverted from this morning and finally arriving at the SDW beside Downs farm.
The final bit was to walk back down the SDW to High Titten and the van. As the clouds were now slightly higher we could look over Amberley Brooks and the flooding from the recent rains.
