Beating the Bounds
This was a walk that consolidated some previous trials of a route for the Lost Woods but still a bit unsure whether it's too unwieldy. In my mind, the full walk is a cohesive theme of old settlement and Common land. It's one I return to because today's landscape and walking reflect the boundaries and walkways that I find myself modernly tramping. This appears to be the pattern of development here in these parts of the Low Weald, with Burgess Hill as a town, a relatively new incarnation in quite an old history of manorial lands and ancient farmsteads.
The project demands attention to big old trees and woodland and we're not left wanting because they are in abundance. Many a path is punctuated with prime specimens and these, in turn, often coincide with parish boundaries. This is not chance, as some planting would have been a clear visual indicator of land ownership in days gone. Where maps were hard to come by, the practice of 'beating the bounds' cemented the collective memory of parishioners, that might find painful reminders essential to settle tax and land dispute. The plying of the borders with ceremonial and physical acts, necessitated an actual progression along these limits. It occurs to me that paths often preserve these boundaries as the boundaries do the paths. A river can also act as a convenient delineation and the Adur does the job in this case. Both are subject to change but within them can be a really quite old time capsule, ripe for the opening.
The walk starts from either Burgess Hill Station or Wivelsfield Station and the whole route can be made shorter by axing the section beyond the road at Wivelsfield church and returning via Ote Hall.
From opposite Burgess Hill Station, take Grove Road through to Mill Road. Continue over the hill where the trees become visible to the north. I've often wondered whether the white pillar at Spanish Court is an old triangulation point. It does appear to be at the high point. Turn right on St Wilfrids Road and bear left on the path through the Railway Lands. Bear right to exit on Leylands Road at Wivelsfield Station.
Cross at the lights and take the path opposite through the north Railway Lands. Bear left as the path forks at an impressive oak. At the junction, turn left and continue on Maple Close. Turn right towards Coopers Close. On your left and by the willow tree, take the path into Bedelands Nature Reserve. There is an information board close by. Descend the steps and walk north, over the stream and through Long Wood. You will emerge into Big Meadow. Continue northward to the western side. This area is very popular with dog walkers.
Go through the hedge and into Watford Meadow. On the far side, you enter Watford Wood. The path turns northward and enters Wet Meadow. The path on the left side becomes a board walk and beyond the hedge you enter Old Arable. Once into Big Wood, you pass one of a number of ponds. Turn immediately right and then left at the next opportunity.
As you exit the wood, you hear the sound of rushing water. Take a look at the weirs below you. Return to the eastward path and you can turn left to stand on the metal footbridges between the Mill Pond and the Adur. I was gratified to see the grey wagtails again but cross that I didn't have a decent camera, particularly as one sat motionless over the water, waiting for its picture. Return to the path and go south on the marked footpath through the Mill Pond Field. Stay with the hedge on your left and will see the dipping pond. After this, turn left and enter Coronation Field on Valebridge Common. The area within is fenced off and so follow the hedge back north, bearing right when you can cross the meadow east.
With the railway now on your left, continue south into the Upper Plantation, over the boardwalk and into Furze Field. The public footpath on the left exits Bedelands and traverses the track at a level-crossing.
(For the short walk, you could take this in the opposite direction and turn left through the kissing gate to return to the Railway Lands and loop back to the station.)
Cross Valebridge Road and turn right. Now take Theobald's Road on the left. Some historical information is provided on signs as you walk along this ancient route to the farm. Continue on the bridleway, muddy at times until you reach the crossroads with the footpath. Take the footpath on the right and climb the hill to the cattle farm. A highland cow was grazing by the fence line. A footbridge over the Adur brings you out into a field adjacent to Lunces Hall. Continue up to another crossroads and climb over the stile. There are views to the Downs in the south as you go through the metal gate and on to the driveway. Turn left and continue along the road to the St Peter and St John the Baptist church. The old hollow yew tree stands in front of the Saxon doorway, refitted into the northern wall. Today, I was able to go in the church. There were some damsons on offer and an old ladder near the organ. Take the path through the churchyard, on the south side and exit into the field.
*The footpath going southwest takes you to Ote Hall for a shorter version of this walk.
For the long route, continue to the next field on your left. You can see grade II listed 18th century Ote Hall Chapel at the road. Go directly across the next field and to the gate over the B2112. On the far side, continue in the same direction, towards the fenced track. You will see the stile on its continuation, to the right of the gate. There is sometimes a bull in this field. The black beast was near the gate and I did not make eye contact. The concrete track takes you through to the next field where you must walk towards the trough. Beyond, head for the wooden fence and take the stile over it. Continue to Slugwash Road. Go directly over the Sussex Border Path and to the White House Gates. Take the metal gate through the hedge on the right. There are two paths across this field. Head towards the southeastern corner of the sheep field. Keep roughly in this direction to cross the stiles in the next two fields. Some sheep rested in a ditch and wearily amongst the fallen boughs of an oak. Now follow the side of the field south, with the hedge on your right. The path now crosses to the right side of a conifer hedge and through some new houses to the road at Wivelsfield. Cross and turn left. Beyond the Post Office, you will see The Cock Inn on your left. I didn't visit today.
Continue on the grass beyond the pavement until you see the bridleway marked on the right. Take this all the way through Wivelsfield Green, to the South Road. Cross the road and find the bridleway to the left of the drive to Sugrue South Downs. Go through the car park and past the vineyard to Hundred Acres Lane. Turn right and then left on the footpath into West Wood, opposite the nursery. Leave the wood and keep the hedge on your right until you reach the road. Turn left on the Border Path but continue westward into Ditchling Common Country Park. Bear right at the fork to stay on the northern side of the tree cover. On the edge of the park, turn right to continue to the Ditchling Road.
Cross and follow the left side of the hedge to the 18th Century Bethel Chapel. Continue on the footpath which can be very muddy and over the footbridge. Head to the edge of Great Ote Hall Wood on the right side of the field. At the gate go through but stay walking in the same direction and leave the wood behind. Stay with the fence on your left and cross another fence by the oak tree. Cross the stile and you are at the front door of the 16th century Ote Hall.
*Continue west with the hedge on your right. Cross the field towards the houses and follow the footpath between the fences. Continue to follow this line until you reach the main Valebridge Road. Cross over and pass under the railway arch, turning immediately left to rejoin the northern Railway Lands and to make your way back to the station.
I actually, didn't do this but continued to Jane's Lane, crossed it and took the Green Circle as far as Ferendale and Silverdale Road. From here, I made it back into town to do some shopping for tea.
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