Blackheath & Wey South, Farley Heath

The best day for weeks - clear blue skies with the promise of sun all day. After the mud at the weekend it was time to go back to the sandy areas of the Greensand hills above Shamley Green. I was in the van and determined that the car parks on Farley Heath did not have barriers so seemed a good place to start. then walk down to the Downs link/ Wey south path, following that up to Shalford where we would make our way back through Blackheath forest.

I missed the entrance to the roman temple car park and stopped a the next one - Farley Glade. We parked up here and left into the woods following a path that led back to the roman temple site.

the temple remains are just the wall foundations in the grass, that you would not notice if not for the sign.

From the temple we followed a large dirt track into the plantation and around a wood with lots of signs indicating "written permission required to enter!". the south side of this area was also bounded by a fence penning in the track. This continued until we reached a farm building and it turned into a driveway.

here we turned south again beside a horse field, dropping down steeply to Woodhill lane.

Along a driveway to a large house - the gatehouse was also suitably large. Past the bog house and down a lane lined with horse chestnut trees.

A small path beside the fields took us off the driveway, this was the Greensand way and we joined this continuing as it left between fields to come out beside the church in Shamley Green 

Across the B2128 and into the fields of Plonk's Hill. this crossed the river and climbed up to the Downs link.

A slight diversion down beside a bluebell field took us to the first of two lifting bridges over the Wey and Arun canal

Along the newly renovated path beside the canal to the second lifting bridge. This bridge would take us back to the Downs link path

Now back on the flat path of the the Downs link we continued up it into Bramley and across the B2128 at the old station

At Tanyard crossing there was a garden beside the path. This is where the Downs link path separates and heads north. Still on the Downs link we continued to the canal presentation hut at the end. this is where it meets the A281. I was tempted by the snack van in the car park here and stopped for a bacon buttie (which I had to share)

Now continuing on the Wey South path (leaving the track of the old railway) following the stub of the canal until we touched the Wey navigation up to the A248. Here we crossed into the common land at Shalford where a travelling fun fair was setting up.

Back over both the A281 and the A248 we followed Chinthurst lane 

Along a green lane that rose up between hedges. a zigzag and we joined the downs link path once again. Beside us was Chinthurst Hill where we would take a diversion.

Climbing up the hill we walk directly up the slope to the tower. Then we took the Bluebell walk back down in a circular route. From the top we could look across to Blackheath forest.

Looking over to the Blackheath woods as we followed the circular route down the hill and back to the Downs link path.

Across the B2128 and into Wonersh Common and alongside Great Tangley Manor. the path then climbed into the woods of Tangley Hill

Entering into Blackheath at Rosemary Hill and up to the war memorial.

Through the woods of Blackheath forest alternating between trees and heathland.

Towards the edge of the forest we turned south along a bridleway (still very sandy) and followed it all the way back to the car park.

AAC Walk, Knepp

My first AAC walk as leader - and to make things worse there were 16 people on this walk. I had previewed the walk and also been back to check how much the route had dried out after the spring rains, however the previous day's and overnight rain had dampened things down a lot.

Tim and I met the London train at Christ's hospital station (we needed 2 cars to transport the 6 train travellers) and drove over to Southwater country park and its car park - to walk from the station would be a touch too far for most of the walkers. There we met everyone else (as well as Sue and Bertie who had been dropped off earlier). 

I hurried through the bureaucratic paperwork and we rushed off around the lake - there was a park run going on which had just finished and there were crowds of people milling around. The first section of the walk was through the park then the residential area before we could escape into the trees of Blinks wood with a welcome obstacle of a mud wallow just at the entrance - my first realisation that everything slows down to negotiate the mud one at a time.

In the woods we followed a windy path through the Bluebells as this kept us off the main muddy track, then around the edge of the woods to a grass field. The field was not very swampy, however the track through to Trawler's farm was exceedingly trampled and the mud churned up by animals as well. When combined with the limited escape to the sides this proved a little challenging for several of the party.

Once through the worst here we followed the path - now much drier down past the spectacular display of Bluebells in the woods to the side - fields of blue on one side and views to the south downs ahead.
Through Dragon's Green and across the A272 into more grass fields - still relatively solid before our first break just before the windmill at Shipley.
Now trying to get a bit of speed into the walking we set off down the bridleway that led to the edge of the estate. Through the deer fencing and along the track at this edge of the estate. The group was making a lot of noise so not much wildlife would be seen here.

Overhead as we turned the corner a stork flew across with something large in its beak. Around "pig corner" as I like to call it without any signs of the animals, then as we turned aroudn Bentons place farm there lying beside the track was a huge sow - the first of the year.

We had seen a stork earlier, now there was just a bill showing in the nest, with one more on the ground, along with several deer and another pig.
With that excitement over there was a lot of grumbling about lunch so we hurried on across the bottom of the estate, turning through Tory copse where there was an insistent Cuckoo and apparently some nightingales.

Finally to the café - we had to sit outside as the inside was full. food was a long-time coming (I guess the efficiency is not there yet) however when it came the sandwich would do me for tomorrow as well.
Sue would stay here (and enjoy the cakes and hospitality) as her hips and knees were playing up and we would pick her up later.
As we sat eating the clouds overhead got a little darker, and a few spots of rain, which caused some consternation among people and a desire to rush off. I shortened the trail slightly by missing out on the ruins and crossing over to the lake directly. then charging up the driveway past the gatehouse and the big house.

We came out onto Pound lane where several (three) of the party chose to return via the road to skip the mud track in the woods which we had traversed on the way out. The rest of us followed the original route up to Greenstreet farm then re-joined the trace of our outward journey.
Around here the rain started in earnest and waterproofs were required, this had the effect of speeding the group up - no dawdling - and also no pictures.
We sped up through the fields to Trawlers farm and then along the track to the muddy section. Here I deliberately went off route and through the private part of the estate to by pass the muddy track through the woods. We entered the field a little lower and across a horse jumping fence (the gate being locked). We re-joined the original track and into the bluebell walk of Blinks wood, having a far better time than previously.
As we came out of the woods into the residential area of Southwater the three dissidents called to say they had reached the car park - only 15 mins ahead of us.
Heads still down against the rain we charged through the housing estate and the country park back to the cars.
My calculation was that we would not get to the train in time and it would need a delay of an hour so I persuaded my passengers to deviate to pick up Sue an I would take them to Horsham station in return which had more trains per hour.
Bertie was indignantly put into the boot of the car (much to his displeasure) and we drove down to the Knepp estate. Sue had been forced to move when the café closed and was waiting in a bus shelter in Dial Post, where she joined us int he car and we hurried back to Horsham train station to drop off our passengers. Hence home to dry off and grab some food.

Knepp Circuit, Dial Post

The AAC walk is coming up, and I was looking for another shorter walk so settled on checking out the café in the Knepp estate. Starting at the main car park, then follow the orange and red routes around the estate back to the café.

Leaving the car in the car park and walking around the café picking up the orange route. Cutting through the parkland across to the ruins of the old castle.

From the ruins over to the driveway, and lookign across to the first animals (pony herd).

Past the lake and along the drive to the new castle. We did cut over the grass rather than walk along the driveway all the way.

Cattle away on the other side of the castle. We left the estate and walked up Pound lane, then down the driveway to Greenstreet farm. Then across to Green street itself.

Turning back south over the fields with views down to the south downs and Chanctonbury ring. past Church farm north and across to the windmill picking up the red route once more. Down the bridleway to the edge of the estate.

Down the wide lane down the side of the estate, passing the first tree lookout. Two stags crossed the path ahead, but all I got was bushes on the camera.

Eventually leavign the lane when we reached the edge fo the estate again, turning along the lane behind Benton's place farm (no pigs today)

The storks were flying then one settle in the tree.

We left the red route for the yellow one to cross over above Dial Post village and get back to the café.

Coffee and cake for lunch.