Globetrotting

BURGESS HILL STATION, SAYERS COMMON, HIGH CROSS, SUSSEX PRAIRIE GARDEN LOOP

I was going to cheat and do this walk on Thursday as the weather looked a little bit more iffy on the Friday but, as it turned out, I felt a touch of post-vaccination fatigue and had to opt for the standard end of week walk.  I also hadn't intended on walking too far but failed in this aspect, as this is quite a long one.

As it turns out, the rain petered out through the course of the morning. Until then, I remained warm and I had a spate of 'coat dilemma'; be sweaty or rained on. The presiding feature was, however the wind. I always feel the wind is underplayed on forecasting. It makes a huge difference in walking comfort. If you know the the drizzle will make you gradually wet over a period time, it can be bearable. Compare that with being blasted with needles at 120 mph.

I was consoled by the familiarity of October wind. I like to think of it as the time to whip the dead leaves and branches from the trees for Autumn. It took my mind back to 1987 and 'The Great Storm', coincidently on the 15th-16th of this month. Everyone of a certain age is aware of Michael Fish and his false assurances regarding the strength of the extratropical cyclone. I remember it for felling the beloved East Anglian willow tree in our garden and cutting the electricity for several days. I cried.

I liked this walk for the garden and the lengthy single direction paths flanked by horses. You will experience, if you're lucky, a taste of the Americas in the heart of West Sussex.

Start at the station or pretty much anywhere on the Green Circle. Follow it anti-clockwise beyound the burial ground and Eastlands Farm. Bear left and exit onto the road, turn left and take the first path on the right. I saw a limping fox and two lime green woodpeckers bobbing over Oaklands Park. At the road, turn right then left towards North End Farm.

Turn left at the road and take the first path on the right that follows the edge of the field. As you exit onto the road over the stile, you can look towards Pickham's Cottages and the Downs beyond. I could smell drains and hear the fury of the A23. Take the path going westwards beyond the pond then south at the edge of the field and west again.

Onto the road at Goldbridge House and take the path opposite. Follow the signs on the ground that takes you straight to the stile on the B2118. I've walked in this field when the grass was at my waist but, even now, it was clear that it was not necessary to go to the middle of the field and loop south, as indicated on the map.

At the roundabout go south into Sayers Common and pass the flinty church before heading up the drive to the school. I passed the Oast Café. I smelled the Oast Café. I didn't know at the time that you can visit the café between 9.30 and 11 on a Friday. It is run by the pupils at this SEN school for autism. I think I had just missed my opportunity to be served by year 5 baristas.

The sun came out and I switched my brain off to admire the horses on my way to Stuccles Farm. At the pond in front of the farmhouse, continue onto Twineham Lane. Turn right then left onto the footpath that heads southwest, all the way over the middle of some lumpy fields, and pass Firsland House etc.

On Henfield Road going west, you'll reach The Wheatsheaf. There is a little coffee shop selling breakfast items, sandwiches and delicious sausage rolls in the car park. A strong Brazilian influence is in evidence here and at the pub. Continuing the theme, carry on minding the traffic all the way to the Prairie Garden. If you haven't already, you can get cakes and coffee here from 1pm when it opens.

After having a thoroughly enjoyable mooch at the end of the garden's season, I reluctantly left. Take the bridleway, almost opposite, towards the Blacklands Farm campsite and bear east. A deliciously straightforward way will take you beside ponds all the way to Wineham Lane, left then right on to another bridleway through Wyndham Farm. Go south at the horse paddocks and east on another solid bridleway.

This time, turn right on the road and left on to the beautifully proportioned drive of New House Farm. Leave the bridleway after the pond and go towards Stroods Farm passing Hickstead Park. I saw a little deer sitting here before I reached the roundabout once again.

You could loop the walk exactly from here or, as I did, slightly vary it for speed.