It was overcast but forecast to clear up later, so Bertie and I hitched a lift
with Sue to Broadbridge heath where she was visiting her Mother and doing some
shopping. The aim was to walk down to Christs hospital then a large circle
around through Itchingfield to come back to the Downs link path. Along the
path to Slinfold and into the golf course through the course and into the
woods. along the same direction to Gibbons Mill and pick up one of the
"standard" routes back home along the canal.
We left Sue in the car park outside Tesco's and headed back to the entrance where we turned down a lane - Old Wickhurst Lane - that led down between the new housing estates and the playing fields. Across the new bypass road and onto a continuation of the lane.
Past the converted farm buildings of Broadbridge farm and around to the bridleway leading to Mill Bridge. Over the bridge and up the other side. Here Bertie wanted to explore the field on the side, and I assumed this would cross over to the Christ's hospital path at the end of the field.
Unfortunately the path did not meet and stayed on the northern side of a stream so we continued in a big loop around High wood. The grass here was still wet from last night's rain and my trousers got soaked.
Up the top of the mound above High Wood looking over Broadbridge Heath, before dropping back down to the lane we started on as it passed Broadbridge Farm.
Now eliminating the loop to Christ's Hospital we continued along the bridleway to reach the downs link path - the old railway line from Guildford to Shoreham. We turned along it towards Slinfold in the direction of Guildford.
Under teh A281, then through Slinfold, crossing a back road and beside an industrial area and a campsite then finally under the A29.
We left the Downs link to access the golf course - a farm drive down the side. then at the end of it we crossed onto the side of the course itself following it to the bottom end.
leaving the golf course and into the wood below it crossing a stream by some steps and a bridge. this came out into a grass field away from Tittlesfold farm
Taking a branch to Haven road, on an overgrown path along side a grass field. Over Haven road and through a tree felling & splitting operation and back into woods.
We followed the path through Heather's copse and into the fields beyond. we did miss a path and got the wrong side of a fence in a field near Marshall's farm. We had to go around the end to a gate and popped over it into Marles lane.
Then into more woods to come out onto another back lane this time leading to Heather's farm. We followed this back road as it turned 90 deg and continued up to Gibbons Mill Farm.
Down Gibbons Mill drive to the Mill itself - we were now on a well trod (by us) route
Up the other side past Newhouse farm, and across the fields to Drungewick Hill farm.
Down to Drungewick aqueduct and onto the canal tow path.
Along the canal towpath back to the Onslow Arms, then continuing along the towpath to Devil's hole lock. Over the adder field and back into the village. Home along the drive.
