Monday, March 23, 2015

Three Cups, Dallington Wood, but not Batemans circuit hike


Usually the initial task on new walks is to identify where to walk, but this was taken a step further when a local Three Cups resident had to provide instructions on how to park in the provided lay-by. We duly re-parked our 2 vehicles looking less abandoned and headed down the first section toward Dallington wood.
The track was wet and muddy and only careful positioning at the side of the path enabled us to avoid getting our boots completely covered in mud with minutes of leaving the road.
A protected path that ran alongside fields, both sides of the path turned into an avenue of freshly yellow blossomed gorse bushes. More avoiding the sharp thorns we came to the first junction of paths.
There were adequate signs and landmarks for us to identify which way to continue. Unfortunate that we couldn't remain on the concrete track but instead started to head off onto another muddy track. 
A short detour to avoid the more prolific wet mud caused us to walk amongst the trees and step across the spongy carpet of dropped pine needles that lay beneath darkened trunks.
More signposts and another protected path that dropped down toward a collection of farm buildings. We walked through the centre of civilisation and upwards towards the next wood. The track headed upward, but the signpost directed up an even steeper footpath and eventually reached the top of the incline into Sugarloaf Wood.
The clouds remained heavy with little chance of seeing sunshine throughout the morning. We were about to approach another set of farm buildings. In fact, as we opened the gate a small dog was stirred from his usual Friday morning routine and greeted us with a frenzy of excitement. The large converted barn to our left loomed large over a greenhouse in which the lady of the house exchanged a few pleasantries whilst attempted to bring order and sense to her dog, who by now was just making fervent attempts to trip our group up. Yes, he was a small terrier that wouldn't take no for an answer.
A little further up the concrete drive a BT van was parked up with another resident of another nearby house. Once again we politely said our greetings as we felt guilty of trespassing through their private life. But perhaps people who have public footpaths get used to this phenomenon of passing foot traffic.
After moving out of the way from a large pickup truck and 3 horses riders (not of the apocalypse) we thought it timely to take our flasks from our backpacks and recharge our feeding needs.
After a 15 minute break we continued towards the main road with one of Mad Jack Fullers folly - the needle/obelisk stood proudly on the hill in the adjacent field over the left.
Also known as the Brightling Needle, this obelisk stands atop a hill, variously known as Brightling Down and Brightling Beacon, that is 646 feet (197 m) above sea level. The obelisk itself is 65 feet (20 m) high.  It is constructed of coursed stone, built in four sections with a stringcourse above each section. 

The fields beside the track were filling up with lambs with their mothers in close attendance.
Now out on the main road, we reach a junction and turn right. There are a group of horse boxes maneuvering around and driving off.
We reach another of Mad Jack's folly on the road towards our next footpath turning.  The Observatory completed in 1818 and designed by Sir Robert Smirke, looked out southwards towards the South Weald. It was, for the purpose of this hike referred to as Batemans... (its a long story).
We climbed another stile and headed downhill, through more muddy patches and eventually came to junction of paths that although signposted as either bridlepath or footpath gave little other indication of the destinations. Further consultation of the OS map identified the correct way... the muddiest, of course. Then crossing over a small roadway we continued downhill. The map had Foord on it, and eventually we found the location and carefully crossed the small stream that was deep in parts.
This section of the path however was showing clear signs of Spring with early primroses in full bloom. One of those micro-climate areas that escaped notice maybe.
There was another steady incline to walk up and  were on a tarmac driveway that was leading to several large houses with substantial gardens with small ponds with geese and a boat to travel across.
There were both natural and artificial waterfalls along this stretch of track. So much water continued to find its rightful level.
Eventually the drive came to a junction, onto a lane (B2096) and we went straight across and took the advice of the sign pinned to a nearby tree which suggested there was 'shooting progress - keep to the footpath'. So we walked up a steep incline on the edge of Alms wood where the highest step up stile tested some of the groups agility.
Regardless of the test set us, we were on the home straight and walking through the final set of farm buildings and out onto the next lane, where we needed to walk back into Three Cups. The Hi-Vis vests gave safe passage, even though we hardly saw any traffic. More amazing houses lined this lane in sporadic intervals and we eventually saw the Three Cups Inn come into view and around the next corner the cars were waiting.
Our 6.4 miles walk through muddy wooded tracks was completed.


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