Bringing it home in 2023

BURGESS HILL CIRCULAR, TAKING IN BATCHELORS, BEDELANDS, DITCHLING COMMON AND GODDARDS GREEN

After a few away days in Balcombe and Lewes, I felt it necessary to bring us back to form for the last walk of 2023. It's not the prettiest or most elegant route but it proves a point that it is almost possible to walk neatly and completely around the town.

I made it a bit less pure by adding in a trip to the edge of Ditchling Common to tie up some loose ends, a pointless muddy sidequest to a Baptist Chapel, a touch of urbex, looking for a shortcut and by taking comfort in lunch at the Sportsman.

Some irrelevant stats since September:

I've spent a total of about 3.5 days walking a total of about 190 miles over 15 walks. That's an average of about 12 miles a walk which I think you'll agree is pretty decent, (for what, I don't know).

It being circular, you could, in theory, start your walk anywhere on this route but for convenience, I'll set you out from Burgess Hill Station. Head south on the eastern side of the track until you hit the railway bridge. Wave at the trains and get at least one honk before moving on. Batchelors is a nature reserve and take any path you wish to the water tower. Have a look at the pond, examine the orchard, pet a dog. Exit at the far southern corner onto Ockley lane, cross and take Wellhouse Lane, keep going east as far as you can, over footbridges, stiles and past brambles and sheep.

You'll reach Common Lane, cross it and go northeast to the railway bridge. You have options. You may continue ahead to explore the free pleasures that Ditchling Common Country Park affords you in the way of water, heather, bluebells, gorse etc. Instead, I turned left and followed the railtrack back towards the road, clambering over the barriers either side, you drop down on the western side and go north through the little triangular wood. Now cross the westbound Folders Lane and directly north towards Pollards Farm and Freckborough Manor. This was a squelchy affair with a few footbridges. Just after the manor, follow the driveway east. You'll see a signpost marked 1734 painted with a red cockerel. If you like, take this to Jacob's Post. Passing by, go almost to the end of the drive and go north on the path by the road.

At this busy trail junction, cross the main road and head directly east towards the care homes. You can avoid this diversion altogether by just crossing the minor road onto the western common. If, however, you're a stickler for following my route, you'll go northwest just in front of the care home gates and take an even more minor footpath back to the road. Pointless. Cross over and take the footpath on the other side of the road. Head roughly northwest towards the houses but this is common so feel free on your route. A friendly doberman was curious as to why I was crouching over a thistle to take a picture. Go west when you reach the junction and then north at the stream. You'll pass some paddocks until you reach Jane's Lane.

Continue north and cross the road onto another footpath. You can circle the field as per the footpaths or take a sneaky shortcut. I'll explain that I initially took the rather excellent footbridge east towards what turned out to be a uninteresting Chapel. I regret this as the path was a pond. Wet-footed, head back west on the edge of Great Otehall Wood towards Great Ote Hall with its showy chimneys. Continue on the road end exit onto the footpath that follows the edge of the field before going north and later, west. I once was reassured to find many thrushes in these fields but not today. You'll join Theobalds Road with all its history.

When you meet Valebridge Road, go north and then cross to join the path west, over the level crossing and to Bedelands Nature Reserve. Feel free to explore or follow the footpath directly, pass the BMX track and south onto Freaks Lane. Pass the new houses but take the first footpath on the right before you reach the main road. You're going to meet with a few housing estate concessionary playgrounds. Please see my other work for guidance. The footpath drops down to the front door of Chapel Farm, a 16th century building. At the main road, cross onto Dunstall Road and take it to the end. I, on the other hand, tried to make may way through the houses and back alleys, as documented on my route map. The one bright moment was listening to and seeing the starlings at Cissbury Open Space.

You can get chips at Jupps and continue onto Fairfield Recreation Ground on the opposite side of West Street. Diving back onto the road on the north side, go through the graveyard and exit onto the roundabout on the north side. Just north of the roundabout take the foot/cycle path going west. Go north when you reach Primrose Close Park then go north on the path that takes you past the pond. At the Triangle Leisure Centre, go over the roundabout and take the footpath at St Paul's College. There is a footpath diversion along the A2300 but I could not make myself understand it as it suddenly was sheeting down with rain. There's been some road widening and a perfectly serviceable path now exists along side it, if you're fond of traffic.

In any event, continue on the old path until just after the bridge and then you can take the footpath/cycle path. Cross over at the next roundabout, onto the southern side of the road. You'll meet the rather forlorn footpath going south towards Goddards green. Painted white letters tell the traffic to SLOW on this now redundant Bishopstone Lane. Sure enough you'll meet The Sportsman Pub and, with any luck, it'll be lunchtime.

After refreshment, take Gatehouse Lane east and then go south when you meet the bridleway. This is the Green Circle. You can't go wrong. Follow it all the way round to the A273 and cross it to Nightingale Meadows. In any fashion, make you're way east until you meet the waving railway bridge to loop back home.