Another week of rain fronts moving across, so today we went out although
it was overcast and threatening rain every so often. More rain over the next
two days, although I expected everywhere to be muddy. Bertie and I cadged a
lift with Sue on the way to Wellcross on the weekly visit, and escaped in the
car park at Tescos.
Into the village of Broadbridge Heath under the old bypass, and turning along the main street. We had to double back at one point to pick up the path behind the Skoda garage which went around the industrial estate. This came out in a soggy playing field and then crossed the A281 into the fields beyond - equally water logged. This path meandered around the Lower Broadbridge farmand through more sodden crops fields.
A zigzag as we crossed a stream n bluebell woods behind Ashlands farm and up to the drive way for Theale Farm. Across this and another field to a second drive for the farm. Surprisingly a well maintained and dry track took over as we zigzagged beside grass fields to the driveway for Rowfold farm. Down the driveway to the new estate on the edge of Slinfold village.
Aroudn the outer edge of the estate and into the chruch graveyard. Through tot eh church then around the back to the driveway for Hill house. up the driveway until we could leave to cross a fallow field.
After the fields we came out on the side of the A29, and had to walk along it for a few meters before the tarmac driveway down to Dedisham Manor. At the end of the drive is a school and some complex routeing to get around the manor house.
Reaching Dedisham Farm we followed the driveway to Violets farm - tarmacked luckily.
Aroudn the edge of the farm buildings and into the soggy field beyond, where we followed the hedge line until it finished in the woods alongside the Downs link path.
Over the ramp of the Downs link and down to the path on the other side which followed the side of a grass field.
Behind Warhams the path was limited between two hedges and had transformed into a quagmire of mud with large puddles. Luckily we could get off it onto a driveway before escaping into a grass field.
The field ended at a track leading into a collection of cottages,where we crossed the Haven road and into the fields on the other side (after fighting through a garden refuse dump).
We crossed a couple of grass fields before one with a dozen ponies in it. These got curious about Bertie and chased him aroudn the field before corralling him into a corner. I had to lift him over the stile as it was blocked, before he got too traumatised. WE bypassed the next field with another herd o in it by going down the farm track and back up the drives to Howick farm.
After the farm we were back in the fields until it dropped into a bluebell wood. A short stop for nibbles then on along a muddy path through the woods.
Leaving the woods we entered some grass fields - very long grass, that helped clean the boots. the path came out at Gibbons mill track
Gibbons Mill was very flooded but the track was still above it. Then up the muddy path up to the houses around Newhouse farm. We were now on the part of the route we had covered in several previous walks including all the returns from Wellcross.
Across Drungewick Lane and into the woods behind the farm of the same name. Through the woods on an increasingly muddy path over Baldwin's knob, before escaping into the crop fields leading down to the canal.
The final extra muddy exit onto the bridge over the canal at Brewhurst Farm. From here we followed Brewhurst Lane to the B2133, across it and through the fields to Headfoldswood farm. Now along Plaistow road, back to Ifold and home.
