That Old Chestnut

PULBOROUGH TO HASLEMERE VIA STOPHAM, FLEXHAM PARK, PETWORTH, LURGASHALL AND BLACK DOWN

This Thursday walk started in the mizzle and only had a glimpse of sunshine, in the afternoon. All was fine though because it enhanced the appearance of the woven hills, Black Down in particular. I was sad not to get some atmospheric deer-rutting scenes but we're a bit too early in the season for that and they all stayed quite far away.

It seems there is a brand new path from Hassocks to Burgess Hill being built with the housing. This will create a potential racing line to the Downs. in more walkers news, I saw mention of a newish two day long distance path. It's not new paths, of course, but a route devised to take in the highlights of the area. When I examined this, I realised that I've largely walked the second leg and so I plumped on walking the first leg but backwards to Haslemere. Turns out much of it is on the Serpent Trail.

The question was, how to get there? The journey to Petworth is a bit longwinded but Pulborough is a much easier prospect and doable in an hour, via Three Bridges railway station. This added about eight miles to this twelve mile route - spot on. It's nice to have the planning taken out of my hands, occasionally.

A couple of trains get you to Pulborough, most cheaply via Three Bridges. Going home from Haslemere is a ridiculous two hour journey, cheapest done via Havant and Brighton.

I took a familiar route opposite the station, through the fence next to the cycle rack and left along the footpath parallel the line. Cross over the railway bridge and take the road until a footpath allows you into the field. Follow the edge to where it meets the bridleway at the 1942 gun emplacement. There wasn't much of a view over The Brooks or away to the north, for that matter. Now go south and then up the driveway westwards. As you enter the woods, there is little to tell you that there are the remains of a motte and bailey castle on your right. There is a strong theme of sweet chestnuts from the outset. The heavy clays of last week replaced by sand.

As you descend to the road, you can go under the newer Stopham Road and view the old Stopham bridge and its cutwaters. Climb up onto this bridge next to the White Hart and go over it. The continuation will bring you out onto the pavement on the main road. Go with it and cross over to follow the road to the church at Stopham. When the humidity inside my coat matched that outside, I removed it. This was at the medieval church as indicated by the brown road sign. Probably quite interesting inside but the church was shut.

Continue beyond the church and take the next left onto the bridleway. Here I met a lovely excited pup and I was the best human ever. Turn right with the bridleway and continue on the grassy track into Fittleworth Wood. Turn left at the staggered crossroads. Bear right at the next junction and follow the bridleway to the Bedham Road. I became quite distracted by the fruiting mushrooms that have sprung up with the recent wet weather and emerged on what was the tail end of The Serpent Trail. Instead, switch it round and follow the signs towards the head. Take a left onto the edge of the Lithersgate Common, with the slope on your right. Leave on the left and walk at the side of the trees to Mitford Copse.

You now enter Bognor Common. This old quarry is a SSSI and an exposure of the early cretaceous lower greensand. It is quarried part-time for rubble-stone. There are a few paths through here and the woods appear to be open access but I was a bit unsure of the pit itself. There were some signs marking areas as out of bounds but I think, with permission, you could access this area for fossil-hunting. Otherwise, you get only glimpses. Leave the Serpent Trail and continue on the south side of the quarry to join the road. Now join the path on the northwest side. I wish I'd climbed up the side to take a look but I stuck to the path.

Rejoin the Serpent Trail which is also the Sussex Diamond Way and enter Flexham Park on the left. Here, walking rights are explicit. The Leconfield Estate allows you to walk in the commercially forested woods and so I did. I picked up the top of Bedham Hill amongst the chestnut undergrowth because I could. The whole estate comprises 14000 acres in Sussex. Take any route you like to exit at the other end of the public bridleway. If you venture north, you can get some views. I discovered a foresters hollowed log bench secreted, north of the path. I knew there was a view but it was stilll heavily shrouded.

Over Riverhill Lane, along a bit and then into Brinkshole Heath. Stay on the same line, leave the main track on the edge of the Heath and continue on the Serpent Trail. Once traversed, you exit the tree cover and climb the hill above Petworth. It doesn't appear to have a name. Leave the Serpent Trail and bear right, up the final Hill, onto Bartons Lane and into Petworth.

Just next to the St Mary the Virgin are the Servants Quarters of Petworth House. If this entrance is open, you can enter here. The cafe was convenient and so were the facilities. I am a National Trust Member and so I took a flying visit. If this entrance is not open to you, you can enter the deer park, on the other side of the church, a bit further along North Street. This is the main Cowyard Tunnel. The different entrances to the park, two on the A272, have different opening times and it is difficult to know what will be open or shut. This had repercussions later.

After refreshment, I joined the Petworth Way route, which took me in a direct route round northward beside the Upper Pond and leaving the main track for the Upperton exit. Geese honked socially on the lake but the deer were more aloof, gathered below me. Barely into the comfort of someone else's walk, I found the my way barred as somedays this exit is. I remedied this. You could exit at New Lodges. You do your own variation.

Back on the Serpent Trail and on Upperton Road, continue through Upperton, round the Deer Park to be in sight of the folly within it. Very shortly after, join the footpath as it deeply decends into Upperton Common. On Westland's Copse Lane, go west and join the bridleway going north before the Serpent takes you to Lodge Farm. Head to the west of the building. Today there were no cows but I recalled a day when there were.

You will cross the River Lod. Stick to the footpath on the edge of Limekiln Rough and leave the Serpent Trail at the next junction. I walked alongside some sunflower sprinkled cover crops to the edge of Dirty Bridge Field. The path turns into a bridleway and my spirits slumped a little on its monotony. Let your mind wander a bit and soon enough, Mill Farm and the Pond, make an appearance. The sun came out. At Mill Lane, turn left into the field andd follow the edge and the path towards the lane again.  Soon you will be in Lurgashall. The very swish 16th century Noah's Ark pub is on the opposite site of the green and I kind of wish I'd held out for lunch here.

Follow the signs for Haslemere and continue north on the footpath through the orchards and then the wood. Join the byway into Windfallwood Common. Don't bother with the brambly interior but stick with the High Lane, taking a left into Jobson's Lane. Go right at the distillery to the lodge at the bottom of Blackdown Farm. The path follows the driveway. You can avoid walking in the garden at the farm with the alternative path provided but that also avoids the way marked to the west. I continued and rejoined the route at Blackdown House. On the Northern edge, you step over the wall next to the gate.

Walk a little way north on Fernden Lane and you'll see the National Trust sign on the right. Head towards it and take the short sharp route up to the edge of Black Down. Enjoy your reward. Stop at the Temple of The Winds and then snake your way back on to the Trail. Views are out to the west also. The mirk had never quite left my company and views were distant but not far-reaching. At the junction, leave the Serpent and join the Sussex Border Path. Cut your way down to Bell Vale Lane and switch northeast onto the byway. The final stretch is up hill into Haslemere's Scotland Lane. Almost opposite, continue north to Hill Road and turn left. Over Shepherd's Hill is Sandrock that descends on its left-hand side. Once on Lower Street, you can see the station car park. I walked through it and to the platforms.

I snatched the Portsmouth Harbour train from platform. My timing was excellent. Proving, once again, that one persons misery is another's gain.