Time for another walk ... it was overcast and only just over freezing, with hints of a biting wind. The downs were covered in cloud so I opted for a lower walk. I would park in the car park on Lavington Common, down and across to Burton park, then Barlavington, and Sutton. Continuing through Bignor park and on to the edge of Waltham park. Turning back towards Sutton Common, then around the reserve south of Burton Mill pond, before returning to the start via the Serpent trail.
I dropped Sue off at Brinsbury and cut over to the National trust car park. I picked out a track that I had not been on through the trees and down a driveway, and across the side of the common.
Leaving the NT area when it reached Lower Barn, before turning along the driveway passing Westerlands farm, where the path leaves the drive and continues on a farm lane.
The lane ends at a ploughed field which I crossed to Ridlington farm, continuing on its driveway. When this angled away I continued on a path across grass fields to reach the A285
The path does a u-bend across and down the other side, beside the church. Then between tow hedges.
The hedges disappear as I got onto Burton park and turned down the drive past the big house (now separate flats)
The path follows the drive for a while with views down to the south downs climbing out of the clouds.
I left the drive when the path curved away and down to cross one of a series of ponds in the Burton Park estate.
Up the far side of the ponds heading for the base of the south downs, before turning east across the fields towards Barlavington.
A sharp dip to cross a back road before continuing across the fields to the stud buildings and the church.
A curve aroudn the church and the residential end of the stud before joining a farm track, then a path that dropped down to a stream.
Climbing the other side of the stream and over a grass field to reach school lane in Sutton.
over a back road and back on the path beside an old telephone box. The path meandered through a large sheep field before joining one of the driveways to Bignor Park.
Past the big house and on down the drive to the other side.
The drive continued very straight along rhododendron lined road. Over a back road and along to the B2138
Finally connecting with a dirt lane into Watersfield common. I chose to follow a path around the common to join a byway.
The byway passed Coldwaltham farm and up to Waltham park road. Along this back road to return to the B2138
Over the B road and down the drive to Horncroft farm and into Coates common.
This dropped down to join the Serpents way as it entered Sutton Common. I had to pause here as there was a pheasant shoot going on, and the drive was across the path. After 10-15 mins (and a chinook crossing twice) I could continue along to Coates lane.
I left the Serpents way and dropped down the lane to Coates house, where I could pick up a half drive half path that crossed the fields.
The path diverted around a converted barn and into the woods below Coates castle (hidden in the trees). the path continued along a farm track below the slopes.
The slopes to the left were like six ramparts pushing out to the track (they were fenced off and had "no entry" signs. The path left the "castle" and dropped down to a stream.
Up the other side and around the hillock on the other side crossing a grass field to reach a cross roads of back road
I followed the back road opposite until I found the path into the Burton Mill Pond reserve. (I think I could have got in earlier but there were no obvious signs although several paths). Once in the reserve I followed the path along several boardwalks curving around.
Then up the side of a grass field to reach the pond itself, lookign over to the mill on the far side.
A U-turn around the pond and back through the trees to meet up once again with the Serpents way.
Across the dam on the Chingford pond - next in the series - with views across to Burton Park (once again). Then along the park roads past the residential houses.
Through the park past Black pond to reach Burton Park farm. Then down the farm driveway to Burton Park road.
Still following the Serpents way to reach adn cross the A285. a short zigzag (on a pavement) past the old farm shop, then down a back lane behind the sports car garage.
The lane ended as the path entered into Duncton Common. There were several larger areas of mud puddles here but they could still be bypassed. These dried up as the Rhododendrons pressed in from each side.
Over the boundary back into the NT area and along the raise path into the trees. And hence to the car park.
