Chiddingly Circuit

In fact, when the title says Chiddingly circuit, there are many circuits that circumnavigate the village of Chiddingly. A village that revolves around the success of the local pub, 'the six bells' offers much music, good ale and very reasonably priced food. Plus the annual Chiddingly Arts Festival which attracts many to the hub of the Village.
But this was almost 10am as the 3 founder members of the Summer Wine Hikers were heading from the car park on a blue sky, frosty 3 degrees below zero.... bbrrrrrr.

Gloves and hats weather plus woolly socks. Over styles and through gates, along the Vanguard Way, we first spot a pond with what appeared to be frozen ducks on the bank. On closer inspection we noted that they were probably a couple of decoy ducks, placed there ready for the next seasonal shoot by local poachers??

We gathered momentum across fields then country lanes giving a couple of race horses a startle as they came toward us. Not sure we'll be backing them? After all, we weren't what anybody might have been expecting on a Friday morning exercise outing.
We were following instructions from a downloaded sheet and it was testing our navigational skills as we entered through a Farm. The instructions didn't give us great confidence as did the signposting. We back-tracked and asked a resident of one of the converted Oast Houses, who came to the gate and gave reassuring instructions on where to find the footpath and onwards to see the, much talked about, Weir. The Old Bridge over which we crossed to observe the Wier is a Grade II listed building and had a wooden footbridge built over it, after it been damaged and slipped into disrepair. Along the track is Stream Mill Cottage, where a water driven foundry hammer operated. More can be found with this link to Wealden Iron Industry

Stopping shortly afterwards to get the flask out of our bags. John even pulled a couple slices of toast from a foil wrap. (It was confirmed later that is was cold toast, apparently a much sought after delicacy 'up north').

Anyway... we were soon to join the road to find our next land mark, Bull River Farm. However, we decided that due to our delayed progress towards The Gunn, we would stay on the road until we came to Scrapers Hill and turn onto the 'Wealdway'. After encountering some friendly Shetland Ponies, we arrived back at the Car Park.

A 2 hour circuit and approx 3.8 miles. (given that we stopped and took many photos, asked for guidance and took in sustenance, it was a pleasant pace)