Twenty-Two Miles a Slave
Another week, another walk in the Low Weald. A route through Tottington Woods for the Lost Wood Project and an excuse to leave directly from home. Another conquering of the A23 to try and reach some unwalked areas and then a view of the line of the Downs before ascending at Beeding Hill, dropping to the river, climbing Steyning Round Hill then down hill home. Tethering myself to a wood meant I walked an area I might not have naturally chosen. Freedom from the a pleasantly dry and horse-themed lowland, under overcast skies, was won in the way of two sharp climbs with sea views.
Return from Steyning is made via the 100 bus to Burgess Hill which follows the line you've just walked.
You could begin the walk from Burgess Hill station and follow the tracks south to the bridge and heading west or from the London Road bus stop to join the Green Circle. Go anti-clockwise to Hammonds Meadow and then south over the Herrings Stream. Follow this west until you have an option to walk at a diagonal to Hurst College. Their church is visible as you cross. Join the bridleway to meet Malthouse Lane and then cross to walk Chalkers Lane. You are deep among the school playing fields. After the buildings and opposite Pitfield Barn take the left footpath. This path has now been tidied and newly surfaced. Go south and west on the gravel to cross the cycle path an enter the 'Wilderness Wood' opposite. Take this through to the houses where you can continue south on their western boundary over Iden Hurst.
At the southern edge, go east into Hurst Meadows, specifically Edgerley Meadow. From here, go through the gap, south to Fifteen Acres and skirt the western edge of the field. Rejoin a footpath and exit up the steps to Brown Twins Road. Turn right and then walk on the footpath and twitten known as Ian Nelson Walk. You are in Hurstpierpoint High Street. Turn right and follow the sign for the toilets in Pit Lane. Very soon, you will have passed the green with a view in the distance of Jill Windmill and entered the South Downs National Park. Wolstonbury Hill is conspicuous.
After crossing Cutlers Brook, turn left on the road and footpath past Little Washbrook Farm. Cross ths stile into the field. Keep going south on this sometime very muddy area until you reach the crossroads. Go right and on to Bedlam Street. This is the line of the Roman road. At the bridleway, leave the ancient route and go south past Randolphs Farm. Behind this, there was a Roman villa. A curious pony came to say hello. Quite quickly you will climb the western end of Wolstonbury Hill. Truly one of my favourites. Set back from the South Downs Way, the hill might be overlooked but it stands impressively. At this end are the remains of Victorian chalk quarry but the hill is evidence of human activeity from the bronze age.
There are a couple of confusing fingerposts to navigate but essentially, go through a gate on the only footpath. Descend steeply to the present day quarry on the north side of Round Hill. You join the road under the A23 and turn right. The footpath continues on the left to Newtimber Church. Enter to learn about the slave trade, with Newtimbers connections to the beneficiaries and abolitionists. I missed a bit of the drizzle. Next, head north on the Church Road to Newtimber Place. The one-time residence of the slave-owning Gordons can be visited by appointment from May to August. Leave the driveway and follow the footpath across to Locks Green farm, going through the gate to head south. Go west and southwest on the footpath. To your south is Park Wood, used by the scouts and beyond, the line of the Downs.
Cross the Henfield Road and go right. A little way up, a footpath takes you over the field and left at the edge of the trees. I watched a horse-riding lesson at Poynings Grange Farm. Other horses were available in the field I walked. Go over the stile and turn right. Head past the buildings on the footpath. Take care not to double back on yourself but follow the drive. Follow this through to Clappers Lane. Go south a little and into the field on the right. You are beside the Poynings Stream lined with big old trees. Avoid any southward approach to the hills but cross the Fulking Stream and then thr Perching Drove. Be careful not to miss the footbridge on the other side of the chalky track and go through the gate at the corner of Perching Hovel Wood.
Go west to merge with a bridleway but then continue west on the footpath past the timber frame of September Cottage. Shortly after, turn right and north to the edge of a wood. You will emerge on to the surprising Truleigh Manor Farm Airstrip. Cross the farmer's fields and head to South Tottington Sands Farm. Go straight through and then bear left to ensure you are on the correct footpath directly west into Small Dole. Cross the recreation ground to The Fox pub. Excellent table service was enjoyed.
Leave the hospitality and enjoy a welcome over the road at Tottington Wood. From the car park, go through the gate and on to the edge of the grass. Make your way to the interpretation board. Follow the path beside the pond and continue beyond the steps up to 'the mound'. After a while, take a left back round to the eastern edge of the wood. Pass a big oak, cross a couple of sleeper bridges and take the left path at the junction. Having done the loop, I took the path through the steps again, went south and took a minor path next to the industrial estate. Being a nice person, you can continue south to where the path meets a public footpath. Go east and south at the crossroads. Pass the Manor Farm Cottages and follow the path at the back of the Hotel to cross Edburton Road.
Climb Tottington Mount on the bridleway. This area is noted as the point where the Rampion Wind Farm fed electricity through from the sea. There was controversy as this virgin hill supports the particular flora and fauna of chalk hills and the cabling runs through an ancient cross-dyke. Leave the bridleway briefly and continue west through the access land, just above the attractive Goldings Barn Raceway in Room Bottom. Hold the line on the footpath through the trees. Join the Golding Barn Farm Bostal to the car park on Beeding Hill.
Views are out beyond Anchor Bottom, the cement factory and to the sea. Continue with the SDW for easy walking down to the Shoreham Road. Cross over and continue to the River Adur. Once over, follow it north. Ignore the Downs Link and join the Annington Road and leave it at the next fingerpost. You'll stick with the SDW all the way through the pig farm. The skipping piglets on the one side and the heavy-bosomed sows on the other mad me feel a little sad but I enjoyed their close relationship with the crows and starlings. The sound of clanking food hoppers took time to fade. The path felt long.
When you reach Titch Hill, the path follows the road north. This is also the Monarch's Way. Cross the road and continue. At the next junction on Round Hill, don't go wrong. You could try and find your way to the trig but the SDW is fenced. Just after the Langmead memorial, fork right at the junction and take the bridleway to the trees. The dead ash is obvious. Continue north on the Upper Horseshoe Path and enter the trees on the mountain bike path. The bridleway becomes a footpath down hill.
At the Memorial Playing Fields, cross it to the far corner and exit on to Charlton Street. I felt some urgency. Follow this round to Sheep Pen Lane and on to the High Street in Steyning. Turn left to the High Street bus stop. Excellent timing for the bus.
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