Angering
Another attempt at a walk for the Lost Woods Project at Washington Common. Trying to make sense of some instructions that turned into a hunt for a dead tree was maybe not the most inspiring start. Nevetheless this was an appropriate activity for a shorter excursion, and allowed for the dentist later. Just head towards the coast after, I thought to myself. Drizzle was expected. Wind was also an expectation and oh how they convened upon the hill. At that exact moment, when the needles stung horizontally upon my downturned face, my phone rang and the appointment was cancelled. Had I been drier, I might have extended my outing with a lazy lunch. I didn't fancy it. Despite the hardship and the simplicity, the walk has attractions; the long sweep of the upward section, the serene grandeur of the beeches on the Angmering Park Estate and a dog reunited with its owner.
Whether you start at Angmering Station or Washington common, the timing is similar. The 100 will get you to or from East Clayton Farm in an hour. Trains towards Littlehampton or London Victoria stop at Burgess Hill or you can go via Brighton.
From the bus stop. Go north on Georges's Lane until you meet the car park for the National Trust's Warren Hill on Washington Common. I wandered quite a bit to find the dead tree but I'll only describe the final route. North from the car park brings you out to a green clearing with picnic benches. Continue until the grass disappears and a path continues. At a line of pine, follow those to the boundary fence and bear left to keep it on your right until you meet another east-west path. Turn right over a stream and continue to bear left until you emerge back onto George's Lane. Turn left and take the next footpath left, back to the car park. Return to the main road.
Turn right to the farm and then cross the Storrington Road and go south on the bridleway. At Home Farm Cottages, you will join the optional leg of the South Downs Way and bridleway, going steadily up hill. Don't forget to look back occasionally. I'll just say that I dilly-dallied in this area to see whether I could join the access land at about 175 metres but I couldn't find a decent way in and it probably is not worth it. Plump for joining the main route on top of the hell. After the sheep, there is a hollowed log to rest on and my dillying allowed a second chance for me to spot the memorial just off the path. I ate my satsumas.
Continue then westward on the byway and SDW. Go left on the next bridleway south. At this point I was wearing no coat, my T-shirt and bobble-hat to keep my hair out of my face, (trousers, of course). It was not cold. Keep following the bridleway as it turns and then go left and right at the next fork. There is a curious redundant red gate hereabouts but it seems it was a foreshadowing of the Angmering Park Estate. As I turned the corner, I observed the ominous dark brow lifted above Blackpatch Hill. The rain came. I flung on my coat but my trousers were saturated in moments and then the incongrous jolly ringtone. The dental receptionist could not hear me because of the wind.
Finally, as you skirt Harrow Hill, you will merge with the Michelgrove Lane. You are now on the Monarch's Way which you will take into the trees. Continue with it at the first fork but leave it at the second and follow the bridleway west. Now choose the footpath south which is barely less broad than the other routes. Continue to the next crossroad of public paths. Turn right onto the bridleway to the edge of the trees before continuing bearing right to continue. Continue over Dover Lane and take the footpath south to the Arundel Road. Ordinarily I'd have been concerned about crossing the dual-carriageway but the sparkly new wood of the footpath fingerposts and stiles gave me confidence.
Go over the footbridge, up the steps and take the path between the central barrier. Get over, no problem. Continue at the edge of the field and pass the house at the end of Decoy Lane. This was once the home of Winnie the Pooh's A. A. Milne. Switch back on the footpath over the field to Decoy Wood. Now I've learnt about decoy ponds. These were used to trap and catch wildfowl in small curved channels called pipes. You will cross Black Ditch. Continue south to other ponds and round the southern one to continue to Poling.
Go take a look at the church. I couldn't enter. On my way, I noted that the footpath on the map runs alongside the track available on the ground. As I checked this, a brown dog skittered determinedly in the opposite direction. When I reached the church, an anxious owner asked me whether I'd seen said dog. I was able to advise and I heard them been reunited. Return to the junction and go south then southeast over a couple of footbridges into the Rustington Golf Centre. Follow the line of trees and out over a field to South Drive and over New Road. A short way along past Sainsburys and you can cut the corner to go south on Station Road to the station. I didn't fancy the retail estate and I went home for a late lunch.
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