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.
