Walk on the wild side
On paper, Knepp is not all that far from Burgess Hill but it is a little difficult to identify a suitable public transport route. Access could be variously made from Horsham or even Worthing. In the end, a reasonable starting time was had by taking a train to Brighton and a number 17 bus back out to Partridge Green. This still takes just over an hour. Putting aside this frustration, Knepp is well worth the whole day, so much so that the onward route to Horsham was put under a little pressure to be back for tea. Horsham environs could really be a whole route for the future...
I exited the bus on the slightest suggestion of Partridge Green and marched along the main road to The Partridge pub. At the junction, turn right and take the first footpath on the left hand side of the road. You are well guided beyond the house and around the south side of the field. In the next, the path is a little narrow and overgrown and it seems many people use the open field to walk northwest towards the River Adur and fields of deer beyond. I hastily left this area because of a slightly over-excited dog that was nipping at my arms. I crossed the river and promptly left dog and owner on the eastern bank and continued a little way north. This track marked on the OS map is not actually a right of way but turned out to be the crossing point to rejoin the path at the corner of Hookshile Wood. I descended though the trees on what would have been a very muddy slope on a mild day. The sheer pleasure of crunching through was delightfully had. You continue to be well directed westward past Middlebarn Wood and glimpse the steeple of West Grinstead church to your north.
The growl of the A24 is apparent at this distance and it was with a sense of sudden discomfort that I realised I had not figured on the practicality of its crossing. After my battles with dual-carriageway-nemesis A23, the fear of taking a convoluted backtrack was high. Many a path has been found that goes to the edge of a carriageway but not beyond and so it was with great relief that I found the crossing to Dial Post to be easy, with some care. There are no barriers and visibility is good. Phew.
Heading west, go through the gate south and west again, eventually exiting through the back yard of the Crown Inn. You could pause at the green but truthfully, we've only just started so go north on the road and take Swallows Lane. Very soon you'll be at the entrance to Knepp, an area being rewilded and conveniently sprinkled with walking routes and rights of way that certainly feel very wild in places. There is a campsite, there are hides and tree platforms, a cafe, shop, Knepp Castle, ruined Knepp castle, car park, safaris can be booked and wellies are almost essential for enjoyment. Knepp suggest a donation at the car park for maintenance but your experience of life here can be free. For areas that are left to nature, you'll find the routes shout quite loud and you can put your OS map away and follow the red waymarker around the bulk of this area. I reflected on the irony that parts of my more agricultural walks often feel lonelier and more abandoned by people and time.
You'll pass a viewpoint to stare into the interior before walking with the elegant longhorn cattle. I remembered the stork had reportedly returned and when crossing an area of cows, I spotted the tree and nests. Just as I was marvelling at their monstrous size, a stork flew in to land. Oh how I wished I'd had the newly repaired but not collected big camera. Just my crappy phone. Nevertheless, what a joy!
I took a small diversion to a tree platform. Much of the walk is quite flat today and so a bit of elevation is most welcome. Few moments were had without some creature flapping, bobbing or scrabbling across my path. Amongst the gossiping long-tailed tits, the knocking of treecreepers, meseolithic cow calls, loping foxes, lime-green bouncing woodpeckers, blackbirds, hip-eating fieldfares, blue tits, wrens and grazing deer. It was me, the intruder on this space.
A northward stride will bring you to Shipley and King's Windmill. Turn right on School Lane and left on Red Lane. Rejoin the footpath through the wood, across Pound lane and you'll reach an area with less perponderance of prehistory and more of stately Parkland. Join the drive of Knepp Castle junior that enjoys views over to Kneppmill Pond. Castle Lane will take you to its edge. After, duck south past another tree platform to meet Swallows Lane again and beyond, past the vibrant yellow of Swallows farmhouse to take refreshment at the Knepp Wilding Kitchen, awash with toddler walkers and happy dogs.
Returning north, we'll take the orange route to visit Knepp Castle senior before rejoining Castle Lane back towards the A24. Crossing here is equally do-able. At the back of the bus stop, head towards West Grinstead. I had intended, as you might, to visit St George's Parish church but accidently avoided East Grinstead's diminutive sibling settlement altogether, by skirting the sheep field and crossing Steyning Road. I hastily paralleled the road to rejoin my intended footpath going northeast through West Grinstead Park. Crossing Park Lane and continuing east, you'll meet the Downs Link and head north. Of note on this two mile stretch of repurposed railway line, better suited for a cycle, is the tunnel under Cowfold Lane and the old West Grinstead platform.
Eventually you'll meet a deep cut going northeast to Blake Farm. You'll emerge at Steeds corner and join a very smart bridleway past Elliotts Farmhouse with the columns of Elliotts in the distance, evocative of colonial America. Continue north past Long Wood and Lower Sedgwick Farm, Sedgwick Park and the remains of Sedgwick Castle, (not much to see), to climb the hill, the only hill of note on this walk and enter Home Wood. I followed a man returning his bin from the end of this drive all the way to his house. He must dread Fridays. Great views are available south. Take the footpath on the left to continue through this wood, through a line of trees and out at the corner of Sedgwick Lane. You'll see a sign on an old Heritage Trail referring to the Alice of Alice in Wonderland fame.
Go north on the road and meet the footpath continuing in this direction to Bull's Farm and onwards. As the sun was setting and Horsham began to welcome me, I continued to Amiesmill Farm and left via Kerves Lane to join the main road and the bus stop outside Tesco. I felt I was sold a little short and planned to explore this area a bit more in the future.
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