Watered Down

BURGESS HILL TO HOVE VIA HURSTPIERPOINT, NEWTIMBER HILL, WATERHALL AND GREEN RIDGE

Having had an errand in town, I started out a little later than usual from Burgess Hill. I had a vague notion to explore Newtimber Hill a bit more. It had rained overnight and it was still drizzling when I left. I could make several cheap references to new beginnings and fresh starts, it being the day after the general election but I won't. I could be lyrical and talk of 'petrichor' but, frankly, the streets smelt a bit unpleasant, like a mix of drains and dirty washing.

A fairly direct route was taken, to make a quick escape and work of getting to Newtimber for playtime. It was, then, disappointing that a heavy mist had descended on Wolstonbury and beyond. I was also a bit anxious about ascending Cow Down after a rather slippery experience but I bit the bullet. It turns out that I was to regret neither on this unusually wet walk. While I experienced the rain, the mud was nowhere near as bad as I've seen and the weather added some drama to what is, otherwise, a walk that doesn't include as many hills as it could've.

You can walk any way you wish to reach the Green Circle from Burgess Hill and return was made via Hove station and Brighton. Direct trains run to Victoria.

Station Road turns into Queen Elizabeth Avenue as you go west. Turn left onto London Road and then enter Victoria Gardens, opposite. This area was once Burgess Hill's very own theme park with a lake, paddle steamer, rollercoaster, cycle track, swing boats and restaurant. Opened in 1897, closed in 1939 and the lake filled in 1977. The outline of the basin, fed by the stream, can be made out and contains the industrial buildings of the now industrial estate. Turn south towards Pepper Park, cross, Hammonds Ridge and enter the trees on the footpath. This area can get quite muddy but was okay today.

Cross Jane Murray Way and join the Green Circle going west. At the meadow, turn left and south towards Hammond's Mill Farm and the Herrings Stream. Go east then south and continue onto the bridleway. You can duck onto the old golf course after the nursery and rejoin the bridleway at Clayton Wickham Farm. Join Belmont Lane and carry on south. As it heads uphill, cross Wickham Road and continue. When the path splits, go south and through the trees to Coldharbour Farm and south to New Way Lane. Go east and south on the bridleway. Although Wolstonbury had its peak in the cloud, I was still walking on this National Trust managed area. I was happy not to have climbed it in vain as the views would have been disappointing.

My plan was to stop at the cafe at the Wayfield Farm Shop by going southwest at Rockrose, over a sheep hill, down over the London Road via the footbridge, before tackling Newtimber. Once in the dry, I was reluctant to leave. The wind was picking up and throwing puffs of drizzle around the car park.

I did leave and made short work towards Cow Down by avoiding the cow pats and the brambly footpath. Follow whichever adjacent path is easiest and bear southwest. Once on the Hill, you can explore at will. I was pleased that it had stopped raining and some views were visible. It is well worth a circuit round to North Hill, especially as Devil's Dyke and the Downs are clearly viewed from here. I spent some time photographing the wildflowers as they swung in the breeze.

Drop down to Saddlescombe and you'll join the South Downs Way. There is a cafe and water point here. Going east, take the Sussex Border Path south. As you cross the back of Varncombe Hill, Brighton and Waterhall Windmill can be observed. Stay on this path until you see the signs for Waterhall Local Nature Reserve on the right. This was a surprise and I enjoyed the undulations of this rewilding of the golf course.

For the sack of bagging another hill, I went east on the footpath to peak Sweet Hill. I couldn't find the trig as I think it is buried in the hedge. Leave the Border Path and take the bridleway, down to the pumping station. From Waterhall Road, go under the A27, along Mill Road and through Coney Wood. You'll come out near the mill on Green Ridge.

Continue west, to Hill Top Cafe and cross Dyke Road Avenue to enter Three Cornered Copse. This surprising tract of green will take you down to Hove Park. Join the Monarch's Way as it goes southeast, crossing the Old Shoreham Road and join the overgrown path, imagining the flight of Charles II. Take Hove Park Villas to Hove Station.