The hot & sunny days seems to be continuing, and I needed to get out and wander about. To keep the travel time down to a minimum I chose a route starting at Petworth Park and zigzagging up to Ebernoe. Through the nature reserve and zigzagging back down through Balls cross. Down through No Mans land to the A272, along this before curving around the edge of the town to the pedestrian entrance to the deer park. Through the Deer park to reach the car park.
I parked in the NT car park for the Deer park at the far end furthest from the big house. Thanks again for the membership parking, and also for some shade under the trees before the steady stream of dog walkers arrived. Out the gate and along the A283 to the footpath beside Limbo far. Luckily it was early enough to not be too busy.
Down the footpath - it was not clear if it went through the woods or the side of the field. However I found a small footpath in the woods which meandered through a massive flood of Bluebells.
At the end of the woods I moved onto the farm track at the edge of a field. Around passing a small man-made lake.
Beyond the lake climbing up beside a ploughed field over the top of a small rise.
Down the far side to a stream then climbing up to a back road. The path here was a signal of some things to come as it was partially overgrown. Along the back road to Ratford farm, where the next path followed a farm track down to Rushout Wood.
Around the outside of the wooded area to the end of a grass field. Then through the trees onto a track that followed a narrow strip of trees.
Just outside the wood was a series of ponds - all square. Presumably fish farms. Back intothe woods and along forest tracks between Old and Holland woods.
At Witley copse I was not sure which side of the hedge the path followed so I wandered down the field. It turned out that it did not matter. then back on the forest tracks to the back road I had crossed earlier.
Over the back road and climbing up the side of an arable field along a slop between two bumps. At the end of the hedges the track wandered into Hoads Common.
In this supposed open access area I tried to follow the marked tracks to cut across top the A283. However the tracks - the used ones as opposed to the marked ones all peeled off south. I ended up free booting it when they became unpassable and ended up climbing a bank onto the roadside.
Along the busy road looking for any access into Colhook Common, however it appears that this is all fenced off as opposed to the open access as marked. I turned down a drive towards Blackwool farm - very straight to a large pond with a kingfisher sign. I did not see any sign of the bird - maybe too hot.
At the end of the ponds and through the farm, I went through the gate into the nature reserve of Ebernoe.
I missed (or it did not exist) and went around a corner, up towards a field. Beside the field an unmarked track followed a narrow strip of woodland, filled with Bluebells. The path ended at a locked gate, but since this was supposedly open access I hopped over it an onto a green lane that led to Butcherland farm.
Around the edge of the farm buildings (now it appears to be purely residential) I found a public access track across the vista from the house.
I wanted a footpath off this path - but it soon became obvious that it was rarely used. However I persevered and came out onto a back road and across into some heathland.
Into a further Bluebell wood. Here the path disappeared completely and I wandered through the trees in the general direction eventually finding an exit into an arable field beyond.
Through the arable field to the edge of Hilland farm into a scrubby patch of land beside a stream. Here the path disappeared once again and I hunted all around the patch of land.
After circling the field I eventually found a bridge behind a fallen tree. Then along the grass field on the other side. The field continued to edge of some trees.
Through the trees and into a further grass field, then along its edge to the Kirdford back road near Halfway house. The next path followed the driveway towards Idolsfold farm (equally residential)
Around the house pond and over a stile behind it. The grass field followed the hedges to a path I had used before from Kirdford.
Down the other side to Crawfold farm, through the industrial units and along the driveway heading back towards the Kirdford road.
Along the Kirdford back road to Balls Cross, past the Stag Inn and up to Langhurst farm. Here I took the path through the farmyard. Along the farm track as it Zigzagged along the hedges to the edge of Old wood - the opposite side to where I had passed earlier.
The path followed farm and forestry tracks along the edge of the woods, down towards a path from Old Elkham farm - the shortcut over the zigzag from Crawfold farm.
Continuing more of the same Along side Warren wood. More Bluebells under the pylons
Still in the woods along similar tracks towards Blackbrook farm, but turning into Warren wood before reaching the farm.
Escaping the woods and a climb through a wheat field on a straight line. Over a farm track adn into a grass field - however the path had vanished and this was just on the bearing.
Looking over the valley towards Petworth with the church and the big house.
Across the end of a large pond with some kind of agitator in the middle. then up the far side beside deer fencing
Zigzagging down the side of the fields to the driveway to Moor Farm. I stopped here for a drink - it had got really hot, and some snacks.
Down to the A272 and along the footpath. This finished at the driveway to houses, and I had to face the traffic on the side of the road until I could escape into the field and go around the edge of the town. The marked entrance is blocked and a new one has been created beside some houses.
Along the side of the town and up the lane leading to the church. Along the main road (on a pavement) to the pedestrian entrance to the Deer Park. This entrance goes through the workshops and under the main entrance paths.
In the deer park I climbed over the hill above Upper pond then across to the main track along the spine to the Lower pond.
From the pond I climbed back up to the car park. The car nicely resting in the shade.
