Overcast morning, with a mixed forecast, so Bertie and I took off for a shorter walk ... the idea was to park in the car park next to the National trust area between Duncton and Lavington commons, then cut through the NT area and through the woods to Graffham court. Down to Graffham village before turning under the downs to Duncton via East Lavington. Down the drive to Burton house before returning to the car park via Duncton common.
We arrived in a little drizzle and set off into the NT area. It soon became apparent that we could not cut over to the path we wanted to continue on, so we followed the main path to the boundary with Duncton Common.
Over the boundary and along the edge of the common, then picking up the NT nature trail as it returned almost to the start. We had to then cut around the road around Cathanger lane to get back on track.
Back into the woods when we reached the track and down past a large lake (not obvious on the map).
Continuing on a farm track through the woods to a water splash ford, and staying on the track as it bent through Fitzlea wood.
The farm track merged into the driveway to Fitzlea farm, which we followed to the cross a back road and into a nature reserve on the other side. The nature reserve then crossed into a pine wood underneath Gallows hill (the Serpents way goes over the top of this hill)
Through the scrubby pine wood and across a second back road into Selham common - where bracken ferns were growing each side of the path where harvesting of trees had opened it out.
Across a series of fields to the woods around Graffham court. We turned onto the Serpents way here as it twisted through rhododendron bushes
Leaving the SW when it turned east (back the way we had come), and down to a back road that leads to Graffham
We left the road to cut across the fields to the village. the tops of the downs were hidden in cloud beyond the village.
Down the back road into the village and out the other side passing the Forrester's Arms pub
Turning down the track to the recreation field and along the gravel lane all the way across to Upper Norwood. Here we turned down a path towards the base of the downs.
The path followed the edge of fields fenced off from the grass. The path had long grass beside it all down here and my trousers got soaked from the thighs down.
The path became more overgrown as the grass fields ended and through scrubby into some woods
Climbing through the woods to come out behind some farm buildings, onto the lane leading from Lavington stud farm (we had walked along here on a previous visit)
At the edge of Seaford college grounds we followed the path as it paralleled a stream around a prairie planted field. then out onto the edge of the college golf course where the path was a cut track beside the edge of the playing surface.
Still following the edge of the golf course to the end point where we turned parallel to the entrance driveway (and golf driving range)
Luckily there was a path that went around a couple of fields to come out opposite the Cricketers pub in Duncton.
Along the A285 road to the driveway entrance to Burton Park. At the edge of the park our path followed the park boundary on a very overgrown track
Opposite the house we turned back towards Duncton village and down another overgrown path - by now I was soaked from the waist down, with very soggy boots.
Leaving the field and into the village beside the church.
Across the A285 and between a couple of houses before everything opened up. Down past Redlands farm and into a rape field.
The rape field gave way to a wheat field, and finally a grass field that came to a back road beside Herringbroom cottages.
Into Duncton common (more soggy grass) and a zigzag to turn onto the SW once again (now heading the other way)
Along the SW back into the NT reserve and back to the car park. Time for lunch and a change of clothes before returning home.
