A weekend with Storm Bert had left the ground very wet with flooding around the rivers and streams. So any walk would need to manage the conditions and avoid the larger rivers (especially after the excursion earlier this year where the water came over my wellie tops). I opted for a walk from home, following the Sussex Border Path, from where it touches Ifold lane out to the lower slopes of Black Down. Then curving back past Hillgrove, under Northchapel, and over to Ebernoe and finally the outskirts of Kirdford. Finally back home.
I set off down the usual route out of the village to pick up Ifold Lane and follow it to its end at Lee House farm. Along the way the SBP had merged onto the lane passing the Huff house. From the end of the lane the SBP moves into Upper Ifold Wood. Here I followed the parallel path (as it was much less boggy) until they met again at the exit to the wood. Across a soggy field to Dungate farm.
Over Dunsfold road and down the path along the edge of Durfold wood estate. The SBP continues on through the associated wood trying to bypass the multitude of puddles.
Near Winkins wood farm I had to cross a stream which had burst its bank - a good thing I had chosen Wellies again today. At Downlands wood the path moved in and out of the fields
Past the racehorse training grounds and onto the path around the outside of Shillinglee park. Last time this had been overgrown with brambles, but now it was very clear.
AT White's Hill the path crossed a back road and into the fields beyond - still wet but dryer than the path so far.
The path followed along the edge of the fields - frequently separated by a fence. The SBP went back into the Big Copse - a scrubby wood - where the path became indistinct and I had to make a way through the copse and out into the final field before the A283.
Over the busy rad and down to a driveway to Dickhurst House. At the main gate the SBP dropped down to a little stream and followed it down a gully both overlapped - not sure if the path or stream came first. At one point I lost the path and escaped into the neighbouring fields for a while until the path became more defined.
The SBP came out at a couple of T junction of back roads, where I did a zigzag and up Jay's Lane. The road climbed up to the lower slopes of Black Down at Aldworth house. Turning down the next road down to Roundhouse common leaving the SBP and continuing on to Ramsfold Wood.
At a small bridge I took a path that followed the stream through some sheep fields (the path had trees growning on each side.
Over Jobson's lane and across a field and onto a track called Bullock's lane - not a lane so much as a wide path.
The path joined the back road at Hookhams farm. I followed the lane as it climbed out of Hillgrove, and across a pair of sheep fields.
The final field dropped down to the A283 at Goff's farm. A short section along the busy road, until I could go down a private road.
The private road wound through Chafold copse and past pheasant court farm (now residential)
It continued on across fields and another wood, as well as a plantation stand of tall trees.
I left the road (not sure where it went to) and along a field.
A dog leg in the next field took me over a rise and down into the start of Ebernoe woods, after crossing several streams and standing water.
The path curved around Ebernoe house and over the back road. taking a driveway down to the old school house and church. However before reaching them I turned along a bridleway heading towards the Hoe
The path followed the edge of fields and down to a bend where it came up against a series of flooded streams. The original plan was to cross over here into the Hoe open access land, however the way was not apparent.
I sneaked through a gate and over a bramble patch to reach a bridge over the first stream. this allowed me to access the open access area via a couple more bridges. The tracks in this area was not really very clear and I forced a way up tot eh back road beside it. Next more back roads along scratchings lane to the driveway to Thornhouse farm
Next tot eh driveway was a path through the woods of Little Slifehurst wood to more fields across to Steer's Common.
Now back in the well walked area on the outskirts of Kirdford, I crossed the common and into Whithurst plantation.
One final challenge a bridge in the middle of a pool - luckily it did not quite go over the tops of my boots. the last part was across to Great Common and my usual track back home from Kirdford.
