It was a little cooler today, so I took Bertie for a walk around Maplehurst and Nuthurst (without ever going into either village. I would park at the Copsale crossing of the Downs link and use that to get to the start of a circle. Past Maplehurst take the tracks east through the farms to almost touch the A281, then turn north with a zigzag to keep off the roads and reach Monk's Gate. From here follow the bridlepaths to Sedgwick Park, then South west to regain the Downs link to return to the car park.
Luckily the car park only had one car in it and I could park the van in the wider section. Along the old rail track past a crossroads of paths.
Leaving the Downs Link and into the fields heading east beside a crop field.
At the end of the field we followed an overgrown track past Joles farm to Maplehurst road.
Leaving the road into a pasture field (overgrown and fenced off stile). Through the grass field on a faint track to the far end. Here it goes around the side of Ivory's farm to its driveway.
Along the driveway until it turned away, when we followed a track through a farm yard and along its drive to Burnthouse Lane.
After the cottage of the same name we crossed into a crop field (path sewn over). Into the next hay field (harvested), with several deer grazing around the corner.
Another hay field led towards Cghatfield's farm. Here we followed the path around a horse field on a tight overgrown path only to cut back along the drive. _ we could have cut over through a gate, but we were being good!)
Through the farm and cottages and on up the driveway to Woldringfold. We turned off this when it bent away and followed a house drive.
At the unnamed house we followed the Bridleway down to the stream and along a drive. Now behind South Lodge we followed a bridleway through the woods
This much churned up (and now dried) track led up the side of Newells rough to Prings lane. This track was straight and hemmed in by the woods.
Over the lane and into Lodgesale Wood - a completely different plantation - this one with tall pines, rather than deciduous trees/.
Through the wood to Cook's farm, turning sharply along a farm track into Spring wood
Leaving the track into the grass field, then crop fields as the path mutated into a farm track. This came out onto the A281, which was followed into Monk's Gate on a pavement.
Down Nuthurst Road before turning down a lane between houses and then a path between hedges.
The path turned into Bushy copse and Finche's wood - another pine plantation. We followed the [path through the woods to its end at some houses. The track had followed above a steep slope down to the left.
Along a dirt track from the houses that turned onto a tarmacked road as it touched Sedgwick Park. Here we followed it down the slope.
The driveway went to Lower Sedgwick farm - more residential and closed off. We left the driveway to follow the path down the side of the estate.
Through horse fields (beside a vineyard) and the associated buildings, then down to and across Long wood
here we met the edge of Elliotts farm - a horse establishment with many signs about access and dogs on leads etc.
Down to the farm buildings and then along a separated path parallel to the drive. At the end we crossed Copsale road eventually finding the hidden stile (also overgrown and fenced off)
Through successive grass fields (no livestock apparent, although lots of dogs on leads signs!). Around Great Steed farm on a newly gravelled track before more overgrown and blocked stiles aroudn Blake's farm - residential
A simple path then led down to the Downs link, and we turned along it to return to the car park.
Along the Downs link back to Copsale, for lunch then home.
