Voyage on the Seas of Chiddingly

We'd purchased our tickets at Chiddingly car park and 4 of us met in the car park ready to embark on a voyage unlike anything we had recently been on. Yes... it was a walk, but we were about to encounter some different landscapes. Admittedly, one of us was feeling somewhat disabled with a 'sore' toe. Hobbling a steady pace across the first field and watching recumbent cattle and catching up with each others events of the week, the first mile seemed to glide by.
The voyage took us across both fields and down country lanes towards Gun Hill. We were entering the land of historical iron works, where evidence of previous industry took place in the 17th and 18th century.

The smell of wild garlic and the sight of growing crops in adjacent fields were a clear sign that April was well into its stride. 
We walked along a lane running near to Welhurst Golf Club. No signs of wayward tee shots or cries of 'fore'!! could be heard. We turned down a muddy track, and came out onto the parallel road which would eventually lead into Horam.

Thankfully we turned off the road as the traffic seemed more intent on using the road as part of a cross country rally. The wooded areas held captive our attention as we started to see the increasing tide of bluebells in which trees stood rooted to the sea-bed.

Another field and we briefly came onto a third road and down a trackway which led to Stream Mill where extensive ironworks carried on at the Stream Farm in the 16th century by the Frenches. The pond, whose waters impelled the machinery, still remains, though now but three acres in extent. The articles chiefly wrought were great and small ordnance (cannon and guns), chimney-backs, irons for supporting logs in a wood fire, and smaller commodities. Bells were also cast at the same works.

Unfortunately our access to view the water cascading down from the pond was not possible as from both sides of the bridge there had been a fence erected as well as some cleverly cut branches to spoil the steep track to the stream below. We stopped briefly for a snack and to compare flasks (not hip).
But there were a few more wet muddy tracks to navigate before getting to the next ocean of blue in the nearby wood. The colours were significantly getting stronger as we looked over the fence into the fields. The trees looking like mooring posts where Gondolas should be tied to.

A combination of gates and stiles between each of the fields enabled us to trace our way back toward Chiddingly using the church spire as a homing device.

We were meeting back at the Six Bells in Chiddingly with another group member, so the final 45mins were spent traversing protected paths and checking up on the campers at a site which the path ran alongside. A few people were sat outside as the sun kept breaking through the clouds. A few dog walkers were also out exercising their breeds of choice, breaking the sound of the birdsong and their owners called for obedience.

Walking through a farmyard, we entered the 30 mph sign and into Chiddingly, where the sight of the Six Bells awaited after a 7.5 mile walk. It was time for a drink and discuss our May Day Challenge for next week.