Downs Link - Horsham to Rudgwick - 6 Miles

Its long time since I have walked this section of the Downs Link.  It was a dry cloudy and mild morning (too mild for January) at 10 ℃.  I left home at 09.45 and walked up to Broadbridge Heath, crossing the A24 before turning down Old Wickhurst Lane.














Pass the old Mill Pond, and across the River Arun where they have recently renovated the bridge, and destroyed the old "Pill Box" to pick up the Downs Link at Baystone Bridge.  I have since found out (via Memories of Horsham) that this was not a Pill Box , but anti tank defences, and they have just cleared off all the ivy etc. when renovating the bridge.

 

It was then a straight walk all the way to Rudgwick, going past the air strip, through Slinfold, under the numerous bridges.

 The last bridge is the best of all.  It is a

double bridge as when the Guildford to Christ's Hospital line was built in in 1865 it was decided that the gradient of 1:80 was too steep in to Rudgwick Station so the second bridge was build on top.  This bridge has undergone a lot of renovation since I last walked this section of The Downs Link.

An this is what the bridge looked like in 2011, so a lot of work has been done.

Martin then came and picked me up where the path crosses the A281 at Rudgwick, and was back home by 12 noon.

Downs Link - Horsham to Southwater

It had been a cloudy but dry day so far, cold with the snow still on the ground.  Needed to get out and do some walking , so decided that the Downs Link would be nice and not too muddy where the snow had started to thaw a little.
 
Walked up the Guildford Road to Broadbridge Heath, through the Village, the via the underpass under the A 281 into Wickhurst Lane.

Very upsetting all the building that is going on on GREEN fields - there is so much derelict land around, why build on green fields? - (sorry rant over).

The frozen Mill Pond is now only a few hundred yards from the building site :(










Crossed over the River Arun and continued to follow the path through the woods, which in a few months time will be covered in bluebells.

In a short while pass the old Itchingfield tip and join the road at Westons Hill - You are now on the Downs Link, although this part follows the road, as this section of the old railway line has not been converted to footpath / bridleway etc. At the next junction turn left on the Christs Hospital Road.

Follow the road over the railway bridge of the current railway, with the playing fields of Christs Hospital School in front of you.  Turn right and follow the Downs Link signs onto the footpath that runs along side the current railway line.
Shortly you will see a post saying Southwater 1  1/2 miles - its actually nearer to 2 miles !!

When the path divides, take the right hand path trough the woods, which is in fact part of the old railway cutting. There was still quite a lot
of snow here.

You come out of the woody area, and go under the road bridge with the Bax Castle pub on the left hand side.

No stopping here today, as its shut in the afternoon during the week in the winter, and also the light will be going soon.

Less than a mile now to Southwater, and there is now dampness in the air.  Crossing the last field before Southwater it was now sleety rain, and I was glad the end was in sight.

Arrived at the old Southwater Station and the weather was getting worse.  Was just about to phone Martin to come and get me, when he turned up in the car, so did not have to wait.

Apart from the last few hundred yards it was a very good 5 1/2 mile afternoon walk, and just great to get out for a couple of hours.

Warnham Circular Walk - 6th January 2013

Martin had gone out cycling for  the morning, so although it was very misty, I decided it was time to start walking again, so this is the first reasonable distance walk of 2013.

I was going on a regular walk of just under 6 miles.

I left home at 09.20 and followed the route along the river path, across the golf course to the entrance to the Warnham Nature Reserve.

This was how foggy it was on one of the fairways, there were a few people trying to play golf.

The footpath then goes across the golf course and up to the A24 dual carriageway.  After crossing the road and going through the oak tree plantation the path joins up with the old A24 which you follow for a few hundred yards before the path turns left.

The footpath then got quite muddy, but when it then went across a ploughed field there is only one word to describe it - YUK!!!!  it was clay and just stuck to my boots.  The fog was getting worse and you could not see the hedgerow and the end of the field.

After trudging through this field the path was still muddy, but a lot easier to walk on as I approached Warnham Village.  It was then nice to walk on the road for a while, and on a dry path alongside some of the deer enclosures of Bailing Hill Farm.

After crossing the road and entering the Deer Park I was wondering why I had even bothered to carry a camera this morning as is was so foggy, then there was my answer - there were 2 red deer stags under a tree and another walking towards them.

I have walked through the Deer Park many times, but have never seen them this close before, it was nice to to stand and watch them for a while.

After being out for nearly 2 hours the fog was probably worse than when I left, and there was no one playing golf as I crossed the fairway to return to the river path and home for a nice hot coffee.

Although foggy it was an enjoyable walk, very still and quite mild for 6th January - about 8 deg C.

Wey-South Path - High Bridge (Alfold) to Newbridge (Billingshurst) 10.1 Miles

Sunday 18th September 2011

Have not done much walking over the past couple of months as I have been too busy with Koi Shows and family events. So it is now time to start where I left off and complete the Wey-South Path.

A leisurely start this morning as I did not know what the weather was going to be like, but after breakfast it looked as if it was going to be dry and pleasant. Martin drove me to Rosemary Lane in Alfold; it was then ¾ mile to High Bridge where I finished walking last time. It was now 10.30. This section of the walk in on the towpath and follows the canal, albeit dry to Loxwood.

After 1 ½ miles I crossed the county boundary and was now in Sussex, and shortly after crossed the Sussex Boarder Path – another long distance trail. As I rounded the bend I could hear diggers and saw lots of building materials and wondered what was going on. When I got nearer to the site, I was amazed that the Canal Trust were renovating Southland Lock (Lock VII), and after reading the notices, learnt that the plan is to finish the work by the end of the year and then fill the canal with water.

The digger was in fact a dredger that was clearing out the canal to the south. Stopped and chatted to a couple of the guys who were supervising the works, and then continued on towards Devil’s Hole Lock.

During the winter of 1997 / 98 the canal was dredged and lined from Devil’s Hole Lock to Loxwood Lock.

Continuing a short distance to Loxwood Lock and the new tunnel under the B2133

In May 2009 the tunnel under the B2133 was finally opened.

They are now also building a new visitor centre behind the Onslow Arms.

Continuing southwards along the towpath it is only a very short distance to Brewhurst Lock, which was restored in 1996 and Brewhurst Bridge, which was rebuilt in 1994.

Continuing through the woods along the towpath to Baldwin’s Knob Loch, which was rebuilt in 1991 / 93 and on to Barnsill Bridge, newly built in 1989.

All these Locks and Bridges are quit close together.

It was now 12 noon and 4.58 miles walked, there was a nice seat beside the canal with a lovely view of the bridge, so decided to stop here for lunch.

There were now a few spots of rain but nothing to worry about. About half a mile further on the navigable part of the canal comes to an end just before Drungewick Aqueduct which was rebuilt in 2002 along with bridge and lock.

During this part of the walk there were several places where there the giant Hog Weed grows, and all that was left now was the enormous seed head.

The towpath & permissive path ends here and the walk is now on a short stretch of road, followed by footpaths and bridleways which do not follow the canal.

Turned left onto the bridleway past Crabfields Farm and through the woods. As you walk through the gate and out of the woods, there is a large open field in front of you with spectacular views of the South Downs.

 It was so clear you could see Chanctonbury Ring. The path now goes through Malham Farm and turns to the left and goes between two lakes, which they believe may have at one time been reservoirs for the canal. Walk along the edge of another couple of fields.

There were some quite dark could bubbling up in the distance, but still warm and sunny.

Follow the path though the woods past some fields with lots of Alpaca in them, then out on to the B2133.

Walk along the road for about ¼ miles and then turn left onto the bridleway signposted Loves Farm, followed the path to the left before the farm, and right shortly afterwards through a gap in the hedge – not signposted very well, across the field behind the farmhouse, and into the woods. On exiting the woods there was a field full of 7ft high maize. At the bottom of the field was a gate leading over the bridge.

This was Loves Bridge and I was now back on the canal. Loves Bridge is supposed to be the prettiest bridge on the entire canal. It was now 13.45 and had walked 8 ¾ miles so stopped here for a while for a snack and to take some photos.

Loves Bridge was rebuilt between 1974 and 1976 and again refurbished in 1992.

Now back on the towpath, and passed Rowner Lock. This lock has also been refurbished and bought back memories, as the Diving Club Martin & I used to belong to was asked back in the early 80’s to do a survey dive in this lock.

The next field had cows in it , and as I had be chased by cows earlier today I was a bit on edge, as these cows also had horns!!! but these were too busy eating.

 I was busy looking at the Northlands lifting bridge when a Kingfisher flew along the water – great to see.

It was now quite grey and cloudy and the end was in sight as I could see the bridge arches of Newbridge.

I reached Newbridge on the A 272 at 14.25 and 10.1 miles logged. It was just starting to rain – enough to get waterproof jacket out. I phoned Martin to let him know I had finished today’s walk and ask the train times from Billingshurst to Horsham. The heavens opened. I had just reached Billingshurst High Street and about to turn towards the Station when Martin called to say, start walking towards Five Oaks and he would come and pick me up.

By the time he met me at the junction of the Bypass, it had now just about stopped raining and I had walked another 2 miles, but at least I did not have to sit at a station and wait for a one per hour train.

To complete this trail I just have to walk the final section from Newbridge to Amberly, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks – subject to weather.