A new week, and back home, time for a visit to Pulborough and Amberley brooks
(these are RSPB nature reserves) - they can be rather wet with flooding or
lots of rain, but hopefully the recent drier spells will have dried a path
through them. I planned to start at Stopham garden centre and walk down the
Wey South path to Amberley (through the Amberley brooks), then on the
Sussex Literature trail in the shadow of the downs crossing to Parham house.
Across the glider field then to Pulborough Brooks visitor centre, and up to
Pulborough village. through the village passing the railway station to return
to the Garden centre.
I parked in the little area opposite the garden centre, on the old road, where the Wey South path continues from Stopham bridge and the White Hart pub.
Over the river Arun and into the flood plain beyond crossing over to the pumping station.
Down the industrial units driveway to the farm lane beyond.
Over the railway line, and A29 to pick up the end of the canal extension route - this is where the Wey and Arun canal cut some of the river corners after a tunnel throguh from the river..
Along the canal trace (badly over grown and dilapidated). This comes out onto a back road and over Greatham bridge and the river Arun again.
Along the river bank then cutting over a field to the driveway to a farm.
Along the driveway and a zigzag around some farm outbuildings, before dropping through a field onto the Amberley brooks flood plain.
Through the reeds at this end of the brooks. There was some mud but generally avoidable.
Views onward to the south downs beyond Amberley village, as the path continued over the flood plain.
At the village we climbed up from the flood plain into the village.
A section along a back road to Cross gate and the countryman pub.
continuing to a bend where the Literature trail peeled off into a newly sewn field with a very obvious track.
Into the woods after crossing the field and along the end of the Amberley Brooks reserve.
Into the woods of Rackham plantation and across to the back road leading to one of the gates into Parham house grounds.
Along the secondary driveway to the big house
Past the lake and along the rear wall of the gardens.
Aroudn the house and into the deer park
Across the deer park to the main driveway and down to the entrance gates. Through the gates and over the A283 to the path around Charity farm.
Into the Glider field, watching the queue of gliders waiting for a tow.
Along the side of the field to the bottom end beside a stream opposite the sewage works.
Around a grass field and out onto a back road.
Down the back road to Hurston place farm, where we missed the track and had to backtrack slightly. then through two overgrown grass fields to a path around Redford house.
Up the dirt track driveway to the A283 crossing over into the woods of Wiggonholt common.
Crossing over the slopes to the Pulborough Brooks visitor centre with views down to the south downs.
From the visitor centre taking the only track through the reserve that dogs were allowed, heading towards Wiggonholt.
Up to the church then dropping down onto the flood plain with views up to Pulborough village.
Climbing off the plain and into the village, across the A283 once again and onto a small lane leading up to rectory lane
Along rectory lane until we peeled off - the path we should have taken was below the driveway we used, but they both ended in the same place - a footpath across the slope to the churches and the A29.
Over the A29 and down the back road crossing the railway line yet again. Turning off along the side of a crop field heading for a pill box below the woods.
Back on the Wey South path beside Pulborough park plantation
Finally turning off to go directly down to the garden centre past the town allotments. Over the A283 for the last time and back to the car waiting for us.
