Around Plaistow & Back

 I only had the morning for today's walk, the sun was shining and it promised a warm day, so an early start was called for, as well as staying local to cut out travel time.

I decided to do a wide loop around Plaistow, starting from home and heading out along the return route for the usual bread run, then across to Rumbolds farm. Before reaching Plaistow cut across to the bridle way to Birchfield, then around tot eh copse of the same name. Over the back road and up to the Sussex border path, along this to the Dungate farm eaving the SBP to reach Upper Ifold and on to Sydney wood. Finally back along the canal then into the village and home.

Through the village and along the Ride to reach Foxbridge Lane. At the stream into the sheep fields to the farm lane, crossing over this and past the houses to Rickman's lane. Down the path into Rumbold wood. The bluebells were still out, but not as prevalent as the walk last week.

At Rumbolds farm, turning tup the lane of the same name towards the village of Plaistow. At the outskirts of the village, I took the footpath along the back of the gardens and across to the bridleway coming from Nell Ball. Along the bridleway until it opened giving views over towards Black Down.

The path passed Birchfield and its grass airstrip, then down the driveway to Pipers cottages, where I turned sharply right and along a green lane heading towards Birchfield Copse. Through the woods on the forest tracks turning right at a crossroads coming out into fields.

Over the fields and into more woods after a zigzag. These woods led up to the back road Shillinglee road. Over this beside Winkins Woods farm and a circumnavigation of a grass field to reach the Sussex Border Path - there was no direct route as it was fenced off. Along the SBP into Dunsfold and across the back road of the same name and through Dungate farm.

Through Tidy's copse (following a track separate to the main path in an attempt to avoid boggy bits). Onto the driveway for several houses that led along to Upper Ifold Farm passing through this and on to Knightons. On a back road into Sydney wood past the old lock house. Now on the Wey South path

Through Sydney wood on the Wey South path, back to the canal at High Bridge. Along the renovated tow path to Gennets bridge and on along the canal until I could turn off through the adder field. Back into the village and home along the drive.

In Search of Bluebells

I had to take the van out so that the driveway was empty for a photo shoot, so I took it down to the Wey & Arun Canal car park beside the Onslow Arms in Loxwood. After parking the van up I walked back home along the canal, adder field and through the village.

Once the photographer had left I chose to return to the van via a number of the wooded areas around the area looking for Bluebell displays. I set off down the path to Orchard Cottage, and across to Beldhamland farm then Hurst Farmhouse - the route I often use to get to the Joust field.

The track through the woods was a little soggy, and had been trashed by a tractor recently, however, once I had taken the branch to the Joust field everything improved. Behind the joust arena the first impressive display came into view, then continued along the other side around Hurst Copse up to the B2133, 

Down the footpath beside the wood yard - Scandia Huss factory - after the initial grass around a horse field the path disappeared under a swath of Bluebells then with a mix of ferns thrown in.

Into Hookland copse and the banks beside the path were covered.

Down the path towards the canal, there were more displays as the path dropped towards a stream.

The final large display was in Birch copse, before leaving the woods to circle around to Brewhurst mill and farm.

Along the canal to centre at the Onslow arms. Since I needed a couple more kilometres to make the weekly target, I chose to add in a loop, by going up to the old shop and down the path to Devil's hole lock, before finally returning to the car park.

Sussex Border Path, East Grinstead to Groombridge

One route that has been on the board for quite a while was the section of the Sussex Border Path between East Grinstead and Groombridge. This is a long stretch that I did not feel could be easily broken down, and was logically made sense since the return could be along the forest way - reclaimed railway trail. The border path loops along the border with Surrey and Kent, whereas the forest trail takes a more direct line. Having worked out the route, I chose to start at Forest Row as there was a free car park there, and walk along the forest way into East Grinstead to pick up the border path.

I got a slot in the 23 hour parking as I thought 6 might be a little short (and it was by twenty odd minutes). Then along the path past mid Sussex timber to pick up the old railway trail - this was more a road here than what I was expecting.

Along the trail to cross the A275, back on the trail on the far side (the bridge had been removed to facilitate a wider road). The trail into East Grinstead was very straightforward with limited views.

The trail ended back at the A275 opposite the Sackville school. I passed this along the side to meet the Border path along a side road through teh residential area.

The path left the road and crossed the edge of a recreational ground down to Ashplats wood entering the wood at a stream crossing and a myriad of paths heading in all directions.

Eventually finding the right path along the edge of the wood heading up through the bluebells.

A new housing estate bounded the top of the wood and I used the back road to reach Holtye road (A264). Over this and down beside Larches farm between horse paddocks.

Through more bluebells in Blackhatch wood and into the grass fields beyond.

The path dropped down to a farm track leading ot  Old Surrey Hall. Thennup the driveway heading for the back road beside Two houses.

Another farm track led to a cottage and a gate into the woods behind it. A sharp turn and through a field to the drive to Upper Stonehurst farm

Just before the farm the path heads off over a grass field to a second one.

A final narrow path leads up to the lane beside Old Lodge farm. Along the lane to Dry Hill farm.

After the farm the track goes around the edge of Dry Hill fort - really all that is left is a dirt bank.

The path meanders through Jules wood and beside Minepit wood.

Straight across a couple of sheep fields (with lambs)

Through Clay's wood and further grass fields to a band of woods.

The woods (and more bluebells) lead up beside Waystrode manor

Into the outskirts of Cowden and down past the church to the town allotments.

At the bottom of the slope the path follows the edge of a golf course and around a hole with a guardian stag 

Along the stream through the fields - a first crop field for the day.

A large farm house - Sussex house farm, back over the stream and along a field edge to the B2026

Over the road and between two horse paddocks and some narrow paths led to a bigger field.

A complex navigation point where the paths crisscrossed the streams and through narrow paths as well as the edge of ploughed fields

Finally the path followed the edge of the main railway line before crossing under it.

More grass fields in the bottom of a wide valley angling away from the railway.

Passing Hobbs Hill farm  and along side a second golf course. Over where the course climbed a hill and to a sharp turn in the path.

A bit weird as the path goes aroudn the outside edge of a grass field via two bridges. Climbing up to  Willett's farm, and the first path closure - due to river banks collapsing.

The alternative was to follow the farm drive down to Teasley Mead. This went over the main railway line by a bridge. 

Through the village to the A264, and along it for a short distance.

Then a path to re-join the border path after it had cross the railway, just before meeting the A264 where it crossed the river Medway and the railway.

Along the road into Ashurst until I could take the station road. The station car park was deserted today, although there were two people waiting for a train.

Out the back of the car par and up a lane to Jessup's farm, where I cut the corner over a grass field to reach a farm lane.

Along the lane and through a cow field - calm as no bullocks.

Joining the Wealdway to go down to Woodland wood and under the railway for the last time. then across grass fields to a bridge where the Wealdway peeled off and the border path went another way.

I continued across a final field to the forest way in the trees. The railway trail was similar to earlier in the day

Along this tree lined tunnel past Balls Green and Withyham.

Over the B2026 (again on the way back) at Hartfield, where a sign showed the extent of the forest way.

More of the same except more crowds as I approached Forest Row

Finally leaving the forest way crossing a football pitch - very rutted and worn to a play area coming out opposite the car park. 35kms... probably a bit far for a stroll!