Today was clear but becoming cloudy through the day, and I wanted to complete
almost the last section of the Sussex Border path between Scaynes Hill and
Ditchling common. The idea was to park in the common car park I have used
before then walk across to the outskirts of Haywards Heath, around and down to
the outskirts of Burgess Hill. Across to Ditchling common, before up to
Wivelsfield and back to Scaynes Hill.
I was on my own as Bertie was still not up to long walks, and I took the van to charge the batteries after a week at the Joust. I parked in the car park (no barrier and no payment) and walked back alongside the back road in the parkland to the junction with the A272. Over the major road opposite the pub and petrol station and into a new housing estate. Here the path was hidden down the edge and I had to search for the entrance. Then it opened into a sunken pathway.
The track came out at some cottages where I turned right into and climbed a grass field
The path closed in a bit as it dropped down to a complex of buildings. Along side a driveway and beside a cycle park.
Into a field to reach a back road dropping to Meadowlands farm before turning into the woods on the far side.
The path came out into the parklands below Abbots Leigh house
The path curved around the house in the park area along a mowed strip.
At the drive way, I took a chance and followed it to the gateway. The gate was closed, but the electronic lock was rusted and I could pull it open (this saved me having toe return and find the correct way out. Originally I had planned to follow a path to the track beside the park area but the "private" signs put me off.
Down the track (called Colwell Lane), which started tarmacked and soon changed to gravel then dirt. The track followed the edge of Hurst wood before merging onto the lane of the same name. This lane met the B2112 at the Fox and Hounds pub.
The path I wanted disappeared into a new housing estate and I eventually found the route it took out the far side and into some woods.
Along the track through the woods to a junction of tracks where I turned up between fields.
the path twisted around a collection of buildings, then down through horse paddocks to cross a stream. Into the field on the other side to climb up to Lunces Hall driveway escaping around the gateway.
Down into the fields beyond and onto a farm track between hedges.
The path came out onto the driveway to Great Ote hall, and down past the farm of the same name.
Over the back road and into more fields crossing to the outskirts of Burgess Hill.
Here I moved onto the new network of paths around the housing estates that had recently grown here.
I cut across to Hope farm and then into some heath land beside the farm driveway
Over the B2112 and into the Ditchling Common country park. I weaved along the park tracks (mostly not shown on the map) aiming for the pond.
Around the pond to the car park (this one has a barrier) and across to the driveway to the common industrial estate. Along the driveway to the houses beyond the industrial area.
I was now on the SBP and into the West wood on a well used and beaten dirt track
I continued through the woods hidden by the tress until it emerged onto a backroad at Wivelsfield. Along the back road into the village
Across Green road and down the narrow Slugwash lane.
At Moors cottage The SBP turned down a driveway and disappeared into Strood Wood.
A chinook crossed over whilst I was in the trees. The path had merged onto Ham Lane. After Ham bridge I crossed a grass field and along the bike park I had skirted earlier.
I continued on the SBP which followed the farm driveway from Awbrook Old farm towards Ham lane farm.
Into the outskirts of Scaynes hill and along a back entry that came out at the Farmers pub
Across the A272 and down church road to the common and hence the car park. A nice cold drink waiting in the fridge.
