Tracking it Down
Oh what a blessing to have a cold and frosty morning when we've had such a dreadful amount of rain. The mud forces one upwards but there is always the inevitable swamp to navigate to get there. The firmness under foot and clear skies make things so much more enjoyable. The snow covering also makes a familiar route different. The dressing in white, highlights the woods, crystallises the vegetation and intensifies the appearance and activity of the creatures.
Cissbury Ring is the absolute highlight on the walk before a decent from the South Downs Way into the contrasting watery, deery mixed woodland.
Worthing is under an hour by train from Burgess Hill via Brighton.
A slightly lengthy warm-up is had from the station to the trailhead but it is straightforward. Turn right as you leave the station on Railway Approach and join Cross Street. Wait at the level crossing and go north on South Farm Road. Appreciate the flinty walls and know that you'll benefit from the suggestion that this once trackway may owe its directness from its Roman origins. You pass your first cemetery on your right, a place explored on this walk.
The next bit might have been more direct to Cissbury but for an excursion to High Salvington Windmill. After Broadwater Green, bear left onto the A24. Follow the roundabout in reverse, on the college side to continue on Warren Road and on to the next roundabout. Disappointingly, you can't enter the front gates of Durrington Cemetery. The Sir Gilbert Scott designed gate and gatehouse are, sadly, looking a little worse for wear. You can, in fact enter on the east side, a little further up the Findon Road but I continued on the A27 until I could enter. You may go through this pleasant, leafy hill-top site in a more straightforward way. Views are available, in places, towards the sea. Usefully, there are also toilets.
Back on Mill Lane, follow this north to the bridleway, through an area called The Gallops. Once in an open area in the side of Bost Hill, with the playing dogs, you can see up to Cissbury. To the right of the playground, take the zig-zag route up the side to Bost Hill and Furze Road, to take a look at High Salvington Windmill. My visit was brief, as it is only occasionally accessible and there was a little to do but take a snap and return back down the slippy path. This is a bit of an awkward adjunct and might be better suited to a route through Findon in the future.
Straight back down and out on the tarmacked path, exit on to Vale Drive and cross the A24 to join Cissbury Avenue. Turn right on Central Avenue and take the footpath opposite on Sheepcombe Hanger or what is known as the Cissbury Downs. The place is littered with paths and dog walkers despite it not being open access. I found this curious as the sign insists on this despite a car park at the north end of the area. The walkers are equally as insistent but I understand that in recent years, the open access land of Mount Carvey and Tenants Hill have been under threat of sell-off by the council so maybe local residents are passionate about their access to The Downs. The path takes you directly up hill and continue northwards to the ring.
Cissbury Ring is so impressive if you think about it and, on this occasion, I walked the ramparts clockwise, beside the remains of neolithic flint mines. In fact, the prominence of the Iron Age hillfort belie the use of the hill for over 5000 years for barrows, mines, agriculture and wartime activity from Napoleonic and modern times. I heard a snort of derision from the interior and the face of one of the ponies that reside here. The route was fabulously crunchy and the views from the hill were as impressive as up to the hill itself.
Exit on the north side to join the bridleway. Follow this to the crossroads where you join the Monarch's Way eastward. This crosses an area called No Mans Land. Apparently, the old parishes of Durrington, West Tarring and Findon met at this point. Cut the corner on the footpath over the field to join the South Downs Way going west. The trig at Steyning Round Hill is at about 189 metres.
Continue on to Chanctonbury Ring and follow on to Chanctonbury Hill and the trig at 238 metres. There was great temptation to begin a snowman as the snow was thick and pristine save for animal tracks. Leave the SDW and join the bridleway by the dew pond and down over the hill to the disused pit. Immediately after rejoining the SDW, switch back on the bridleway into Wiston Woods at Combe Holt. Once down, take the footpath through the gate that takes you across a rather damp field. At Tilley's Farm, a path on the right, cuts another corner through some pet sheep to Washington and the Frankland Arms pub. A convenient lunch stop was had with the OAPs.
Continue north on Washington Bostal and bear right onto The Pike. A footpath presents itself over the road to go north. Stick to this as it winds its way between a campsite and a sand pit at Rock Common. The sand pit has future plans. I was disappointed to not have seen the windmill from here. At Upper Chancton Farm, continue following the signs north to the T junction in Birch Copse. A pony followed my passage and when I left the wood, it eyed me as I crossed its field. Follow the edge of the wood north to cross Hole Street and at the T junction turn right. Beyond Trickle Wood, cross a very wet field and meet the bridleway going north. I disturbed some deer with the shutting of a noisy gate but more were to come. At Brownhill, another herd made the decision to vault the fence along the line of the footpath going east.
Entering the woods again, I was enjoying the undulation and tall evergreens. On leaving the trees and alarming yet more deer, my enjoyment was tempered by the sound and appearance of a hidden water flow across my route. I tested the icy marsh and found it too treacherous. I was able to avoid it by continuing to the boundary. Enter the woods and leave them on the edge of Jessops Farm. Keep following the signs, over the bridleway to the next. Go south and then east to Peppers Farm to Pepper's Lane, all the way to Ashurst.
North on Church Lane, go east on the path that temptingly gets us directly in sight of The Fountain. My mind cast itself forward into a bluebell spring, followed by a wildflower and butterfly strewn lazy Summer afternoon. Right now, a final push was required before the light began to fade.
Reluctantly, go north on the B2135 and then go east on the path to Eatons Farm. Continue in this direction. A sign indicated that the bridge on the Adur and the stretch of path on its bank was shut. I was not sure I should acknowledge it. When you reach the river and you're able to cross via the bridge, go south on the bank until leaving east, towards Stable Cottage. The landscape was extraordinary. The river bank had collapsed a little beyond the bridge but was just navigable. An enormous fresh lake, lit by a sinking sun, stretched beyond it, the water of which was at its lip. I was not alone in plying this forbidden route but it saved it a longer walk to Bineham Bridge. I've been told this was even more submerged. Here, the trackway is just safe above the water line.
Take West End Lane north and all the way to Church Lane. Go south to St Peter's Church and follow the path east to take in the marvellous Cat House. It has a very interesting story concerning a resident's dispute. Back on Church Street, join Henfield High Street.
A 100 bus will take you directly to Burgess Hill and so it did.
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