There was a blue sky with a few fluffy clouds this morning - a bit of a rarity
for several weeks. So I though it would be good to go and see what the state
of the paths around the Knepp estate were as I was planning an AAC walk for
there next weekend.
The idea was to park at Shipley in the village hall car park as this was free,
whereas if we parked in Southwater it would be £7. We could do a figure of
eight walk starting around the estate red route, so if the mud is bad I could
abandon after the first circle.
Parked in the layby between the village hall and the windmill - half full, and set off following the red route clockwise. Through the fields (several horses just before Pound Lane). Across the lane and into the estate main parkland
Following the driveway up to the modern castle and down to the lodge then along the second driveway with Bluebells in the woods to the side.
Past the lake, and continuing down the drive way before turning off to follow the estate boundary to reach the old castle remains (one small sad wall)
From the castle over the flood plain beyond through a herd of ponies. This was much drier than I anticipated. Continuing on the edge of the estate and through the horse fields to reach Swallows Lane. Luckily the route to the café was now easier than last time and it went up the back way, without a long double back through the carpark.
From the café we followed the yellow route to avoid going down the road to the entrance and cuts through the grounds to regain the red route beyond Dial Post village.
The storks were on their nest as we passed it.
Around the other side of the Stork field. There was also plane going around above.
Across the fields beyond and some scrub areas where the pigs are normally seen - unfortunately no pigs. Picking up the track form another hide going to the edge of the estate. Then back up the dirt lane to the edge of the deer fence (no deer seen)
Down the track back to Shipley passing the windmill before continuing on to the field beyond around Church farm north. With the mud drying we could follow the top loop as well.
Through the fields up to Green street and across the A272. Aroudn through Dragons Green before we could return to the fields. This led up to Trawler's farm, where we followed the track into the woods - there was an option here to go up to the Downs link track, but one look at the quagmire route we continued the original choice.
The mud began again as we turned off the farm track into the woods - the worst of the day as we tried to edge along the side of the track. into the field beyond things eased up and the woods that followed had compressed routes through the worst. A loop of Southwater country park - we did stop at the café for our lunch - and back the way we had come into the woods. Again it was all passable until the final wooded area before the farm track.
From Trawlers farm we knew the mud was easier and we followed the fields back to Dragons Green
Over the A272, we took a slightly different way back tot eh car park looping around to Greenstreet farm then through the fields back top Shipley, and the car.
From Trawlers farm we knew the mud was easier and we followed the fields back to Dragons Green
Over the A272, we took a slightly different way back tot eh car park looping around to Greenstreet farm then through the fields back top Shipley, and the car.
