BOC Walk Recce, Loxwood

I was invited to offer up a walk for the BOC retirees walking group, and out of a number of suggestions, the walk along the Wey & Arun Canal starting from Loxwood was selected. The date for this would be the end of the month, however I needed to check out that the route was suitable and that the timings were good - I could not do this on my own as I walk faster than a group, so I arranged a small group t come and critique the route and timings.

Sorry no photos today...

We met in the canal centre car park - I walked down with Sue as part of her daily exercises, and then hung around in the car park while she walked home. Everyone in the group arrived and we set off around 10:15.

The route followed the canal along to Devil's hole lock, on to Gennets wood lock and through Bonfire hanger to High Bridge.

Next through Sydney wood to the old lock house on the forestry track before picking up the canal once again as it zigzagged up through Sydney wood.

At the end of the woods where they merge into the nature reserve we turned off and through the woods to Satchelhill lane. Down this to Rosemary Lane and the continuation to the Sussex border path junction. Following the border path around Oakhurst farm to meet up with B2133 and a short hop to the Roger Tichborne pub.

After lunch we crossed the road and continued on the border path to Songhurst farm, into the woods. Then through teh middle of the woods to cross to Woodlands furze. A minor alteration when I missed a path and turned early before cutting back on a forest road to the large layby near Pephurst farm.

Over the Loxwood road and into Jenkins wood, before a calculated turned onto a farm track to avoid Baldwin's knob track which can be slippy after the rain, re-joining the proper track after the knob.

Finally down to the canal and along the tow path back to the canal centre. I left everyone here while they got ready to drive home and returned to the canal. I now had the final stretch along the well trodden section back to Ifold along the canal and through the adder field then home.

Kirdford, Balls Cross & Plaistow

After the long walk on Wednesday, I wanted something less challenging, so settled for a local walk, following well worn tracks (in my walks) close to home. I would head down to Kirdford, then across to Balls Cross (only to add in a couple of paths I had never walked). Then back along the back road until going up to Crouchlands through the lagoons and up to Plaistow. Finally back home via the Foxbridge route.

Leaving home and through the field to Orchard Cottage. Then down the Parish border path through Walthurst farm to Chandler Barn. Through Barkfold Rough to the manor of the same name.

My original plan was to walk down the drive to the road then along it to Linfold Bridge. However I was not concentrating and on automatic so ended up going around Normandie Stud. I was almost into Kirdford before I realised and turned around - luckily the road went to join up with the plan.

Not satisfied with my initial error, I made a second one. I took the first path on the right, and only realised when going past the pond. A second retreat!

At the correct path (or as in this case gravel track), I turned into and through Brownings copse.

Onto a back road for a short section to the end of Gandersgate lane. Along this to Crawfold furze.

Through this part of the plantation and across to a second wooded area.

This whole area has a large number of ponds all growing fish for sport purposes.
Finally coming out at the entrance to Crawfold farm.

Down the driveway (passing a number of trees with Fairy doors - this one had the words "Magic inside").
down at the back road I turned into Balls Cross and then down the Ebernoe road.

Beside the drive to Allfields farm was a supposed to be a path - I guessed it went down the side of this field, and followed the hedge past the house, finally finding a signpost at the turnaround the end of the garden.
Walking through the grass began to soak my feet and boots.

Through a scrubby bit then up to a cabbage field - the path went across it, but no sign of any passage, so I walked around the outside.
However the next field had the same problem until I noticed a faint trail, across to the houses.
All this managed to make my trouser legs soaked.

The houses turned out to be a livery yard but a small gate led into a grass field and hence to the back road to Kirdford.
With, now soaking feet and boots, as well as trouser legs, I walked up the road to the Northchapel junction.
Up this new road to the edge of Steer's common.

Along the road through the common to a junction of paths - here you have to continued straight on, before bending around Accold's farm then continuing up the path.

The path mutated into a farm track, that continued to merge with a new track (this was an old boggy path that was covered with rubble to improve it for farm work).
Staying on this track up past the lagoons of Crouchlands, and up the lane to Rumbolds farm.

Back on one of my usual paths I turned for home - through Rumbolds wood and out to Rickman's Lane.
Over this and down to a stream, then up to meet the track I use on the Bread run.
Through the sheep field and path to Foxbridge Lane. Down the lane to the edge of Ifold, before a zigzag onto the ride and hence home.

Circumnavigation, Crawley

I had often wondered about a route around one of the local towns ...  so I devised one around Crawley - not the easiest of places as there is a scarcity of paths in places and in others they all tend to head outwards rather than around. However after some judicious use of back roads I found a way.
The idea was to start and finish at Buchan country park (mainly because of the free car park), head out and around Bewbush up to Ifield, from there across to Langley green and through County Oak & Manor Royal (no other way around). Across the main rail line and the M23 to Copthorne, before reaching real countryside once again. South to Worth Abbey, before crossing to Tilgate forest, staying on the edge to cross the A23, before angling back to Buchan park.

I was early to start off as I anticipated a long day, then once parked over the foot bridge across teh A264 into the park proper.
Down to the main pond, and over the dam.

Along a "permissive" footpath to head to the new housing estate east of Bewbush.
here the first of the path route changes brought on by new housing estates, where I had to go along the A264 to the estate road then back inside the estate.

Back to the original route of the path - even this was changing from the overgrown foot path to a new manicured all purpose track down the edge of the estate.

Over the road into Bewbush and alongside the playing fields.

I turned to follow the railway line on the far side of Bewbush Brook - now gentrified as part of a housing estate, and over the foot bridge 

Now in the housing estate proper, and along the residential roads 

Through a barrier and down some more exclusive driveways to the entrance to Ifield golf club. There was supposed to be a path, but I could not find it and used the club house driveway instead. 
Then around the buildings to gain access to the fairways.

The path follows a strange course between the course elements, before cutting over the to edge and through the fence.
Out on the back road up to Lower barn.

Down the driveway and into the fields beyond it. The farm track led straight across these to the edge of Ifield park.

Into the park over a foot bridge, Then along one of the many paths heading in vaguely the right direction.

A footpath led across to Ifield playing fields and past its club house.

I had to cut across the Ifield Green estates and into Langley green which involved a lot of residential roads and "cut throughs".

More of the same in Langley Green, although the paths were more separated from the houses.

Finally escaping into a field with some ponies. This led to a bridge over a canalised stream.

And into the Langley Green playing fields. The path on the map went aroudn the outside of all these, however I cheated and cut across (after a bit of debate with myself) to the club house.

Now along a major path leading t County Oak shopping area.

There was this sculpture at the end of the path.

Then through the shopping area and over the A23 (via the roundabout) into Manor Royal. here the path zigzagged around some of the buildings and out to the road closest to Gatwick airport.
However all the new industrial units had moved the line of the path and I ended up down a dead end and climbed over a fence.

Back along the edge of the cow (bullocks) field to regain the path and walk through the animals and over a bridge.
finally free of cows and climbing to Rowley farm.

At the farm the gates were all locked so I followed the fence for a bit before giving in and climbing the next gate. Down the track to the farm entrance.

The path turned down into a yard where they were sorting building rubble. Luckily the path crossed over to beside a field before I met any machinery, then back again at the entrance (which had a number of rusty old earth moving vehicles).

Back on the road over a roundabout and the railway line to the Greyhound pub.
Just after this the path cut through into a new housing development.

Once again the development had moved the path, and all the new roads caused confusion, so I dropped out to the road and down to the B2036, where I could pick the path up once again.

Although the path was clearer here it was still alongside a new development, so was less rustic, up and over the M23.

Across the motorway on the footbridge and into a new industrial area - logistics (DHL, and Amazon)

I followed a new path through the units until I could drop down and back onto the older path

This path (also manicured) alongside yet more new houses led to teh A264, and across it.
On the far side the path was less distinct across to the A2220, and it may have been better to follow the pavement beside the A264.
At the old Copthorne hotel (now a migrant holding area) I picked up the footpath down the side of the grounds.

Down past the old grounds (now airport parking - I assume one of the valet variety), and into Copthorne wood.

The path wet through a field and mutated into a farm track.

This came to a ploughed field that the path went around the edge and up the far side, going down beside the house.

Across a farm track and through the yard of Ley House, then down the farm track beyond.

The farm track went beside several fields before going into Leyhouse woods.

After a dalliance with the Worth way (old railway route), I enter Worthlodge forest.

A gravel track through the forest (with lots of signs to stay on the track!), eventually came out at Worth Abbey.

A section down the busy B2110 to reach the path (really the drive way) to Whitely Hill - a house in the Worth Forest woods

Along the continuation of the drive to the other entrance with the B2036, then across into the first woods of Oldhouse Warren 

Just like Worth Forest, this plantation had a main track with numerous firebreaks on each side. The further in I got the more the track mutated into a path up to a drop down the far side.

The nature ofthe woods changed over the top and more of a woodland walk, down to the stream crossing at Pond bar.

Across the railway line and up to the edge of Tilgate forest. Here it was all on a dirt road which served the houses south of the forest, until it became tarmacked - then I changed over the fence to walk on a path just inside the forest.

After following the fence for a while I dropped down onto one of the more substantial paths up to the end of the forest, where a small gate allowed me out onto the road - Parish Lane.
I was going to cut over the fields from here to the woods.

Down beside New Buildings farm (through the yard) and along a farm track bordering a field of newly planted wheat.

A sharp turn and the track crossed the field to reach the edge of Bensonshill woods.
Then it was another forest track through the woods towards the A23.

Down through the houses of Tilgate Forest Row to the access road, before a second diversion of the path - to cross the busy dual carriageway via the pedestrian bridge, then back up the far side to regain the path.

The path followed the edge of grass fields, then more newly planted ones down to a stream.

More of the same on the other side, climbing slightly up to the back road near Shelly Cottages.

Alongside a final field to cross the Pease Pottage road. Here I found a path into the woods opposite - not a marked path but it got me off the road. this went between the road and the golf course 

The path came out onto one of the driveways to Cottesmore Golf and Country Club. I met a lorry reversing here because it had picked the wrong one!.
The track continued once the driveway ended, going across the course in a straight line.

Into Buchan Country park and its well made tracks - I was on the edge of the red track.
here I picked up a smaller track to get down to the lakes, where I picked up the blue marked track.

I crossed over between the lakes, looking across to the dam where I had started out in the morning.
Still on the blue track along the other side of the lake back to the entrance path.
Returning over the footbridge to the car park and time for refreshments.
It had been a little longer walk than I anticipated with several diversion due to new builds and road crossings.