Fishing for Footpaths around Crowhurst & Catsfield

We should have known something wasn't going to go to plan as our arranged rendezvous point in Crowhurst was delayed by part of the group failing to find the recreation car park at the proposed time.
We'd already seen several female walkers with Hi-Viz vests, looking rather efficient in their purposeful stride, which we concluded were preparatory agents checking the footpaths in the area in readiness for the 1066 Walking Festival.
We eventually set off across the first section of the field with good intent to find our way across fields, pastures and woods toward Battle. The 5 of us arrived after the first half mile through a gate, onto the paved road for a short distance, then into a driveway and passing ruins of an old Manor house.
The path led us toward powdermill stream and after considering options of some footpaths maintained our stance on the same side of the stream which directed us into the corner of the next field, over a stile and across a footbridge.

We were well into our stride and making good progress as we retraced our steps that 3 of us had taken last September. We found our way to the corner of another field, as directions suggested and then found the small pond and walked to the right of it.

But at this point our attention was focused on the enclosure of pheasants which were being primed for the forthcoming hunting season. We thought we were following the only natural looking footpath uphill and through a thicket/wood however upon reaching the opposite side of the wood where a field awaited, we found it necessary to consult both the OS map and the Sat Nav positioning on a mobile phone. Each of these were inconclusive as to exactly which way we should then head. "Millers Farm" was our next land-mark and it seemed that for the following 10 minutes worth of walking, we ended up reaching a point further from it than we were previously. With much scratching of heads and compass pointing we could see that Battle was off limits and an alternative route needed to be planned.

Traffic could be heard along the lane which we'd driven earlier and was our only chance to gain any chance of making a new circuit pathway. We almost reached the summit of the hill and could see many landscapes to all directions. We even saw Millers Farm in the distance, but we were destined to get to Glebe Farm instead and disturb a flock of sheep that were being carefully separated by the farmer who watched us carefully open and close gates as we finally reached the lane.
Two of us had Hi-Viz vests and took up positions and the front and rear of the group. We were heading into Catsfield, but before the school a familiar footpath lured us back onto grassland and toward Powdermill wood, via Powdermill lane.

We considered further options to ensure that both stamina and time were not compromised. The nearby fishing lakes and camp site was our preferred option and turned back into a very underused path and eventually down the drive towards the lakes.
There was an air of quiet tranquility as fisherman sat in their tented shelters around the lakes, not daring to speak as their mobiles gave contact with another world.

Good advice notices were everywhere and it was evident that the good fishing code of conduct was being observed throughout the site for some very reasonable fees.

But we were soon to take the bait and settled down for our own break from the toil of navigating around a few fields and enjoy some beverages and tasty snacks in order to sustain our energy levels for the next hour.
Afterwards we detected the footpath through a small coppice and entered, through a metal gate, another harvested field of corn stubble and traversed our way towards Fore Wood. Not only our navigational skills were returning, but also our memory of the same walk some of us encountered last year. We even spotted the illusive Millers Farm at the top of the hill as we followed the same line of pylons that had been our additional source of direction earlier.

Millers Farm

But the final stretch of the 1066 country walk through the wood soon saw us coming out into the same field we had walked a few hours earlier. Crowhurst Church was now in our sight as we walked out onto the field after some careful petting of a couple of Shetland Ponies attracted our attention whilst being kept to a rigid diet of dust in their small paddock.

The Church's main entrance was having a new wooden porch made by carpenters. We paid our respects to both nearby graves and the extremely old (1000-3000 years) Yew tree that was fenced off next to the path that led us down to the road again.

The final trek across the same field we had initially walked seemed to comprise of lame sheep that seemed to hobble across in front of us as if to seek our sympathy.
The car park came into view and whilst not making it to Battle, we all agreed that the adventure had been enjoyable and entertaining as always.

Since returning home and examining the walking route, it was clear that the pheasants had been a major distraction in achieving our goal of Battle High Street. We should not have walked alongside the enclosure and turned up the hill much sooner. 
Having calculated the distance walked, it appears that we completed 6.5 miles.

Mayfield Walkabout

There was a freshening breeze blowing across the only 54 space car park in Mayfield as the 4 of us stood out from the car and pervading the surroundings. The forecast gave indication of a shower, but mainly sunny intervals. We were about to make our way around the north west area from Mayfield and after walking through part of the High Street and exchange some pleasantries with local shoppers and dog walkers, we took stride toward a well equipped children's playground, complete with a Basketball court, skateboard ramps and a football pitch.

The directions we were taking came from a small book a 20 Sussex walks and described in some detail the path to take. The quality of country residences were noticeably higher than the average, yet no envious expressions were heard from any of us (much).

The directions were directing to walk beside a stream next to the sight of Mayfield Furnace. The Brook level was low despite of the rain fall. Owl box was seen attached to a nearby tree. The instructions gave us categorical information about what bridges NOT to cross, despite them looking very meaningful in their construction.

we didn't get to cross this one

We pondered the collection of signposts to assist with the next section of the walk and headed northwards and navigated our way across several fields then headed down into another wood where there apparently was a site of a disused swimming pool had once been where boys from the local private school were forced into outdoor swimming activities. However our concentration on ensuring we were on the correct route meant we saw nothing of it, however just inside the wood was a tree festooned with coloured ribbons with reading material about the 'Wishing Tree'.

The recent rainfall had turned areas of the wood into tricky muddy areas, but with careful footholds we all found safe passage to yet more signposts after crossing a substantial bridge. Our orientation to heading out of the field were momentarily tested after some considered interpretations from the guide notes in the book.
With birdsong in our ears and the glimmer of sunshine through the final part of the wood, we emerged into a field with randomly planted trees with a faded pathway to a gap in the hedge onto a lane.

We crossed the lane and walked between 2 white pillars next to the Lodge for Harewood House. We entered the gravel driveway for a short distance then on to a trackway which then, after carefully climbing over a very worn stile turned into an avenue of tall poplars, maples, spindle trees, oaks and hornbeam.

At the end of this section we were to be spied upon by a wood carved owl, politely winking at us, as if to share some discreet knowledge about the remainder of the journey. Little were we to know.

We walked a little further to see what was described as "an Oast House-cum-gothic-fantasy with wyverns on the roof ends". It was Tidebrook House which was, as described, a little quirky in its design and maybe moreso on the inside. We walked out onto the road and took directions down another track for Chittinghurst Barn.

We were about half way through the walk and furthest section from where we left the car at Mayfield. We continued down the lane which gradually turned into a track which hadn't seen many walkers for some time. We finally reached the end of the track and entered a field with yellow walk markers, although felt (after examining the OS map) as if we'd walked too far. With nowhere else to go, we continued to find another junction of footpaths and decided to turn right and head toward the nearby stream. We eventually found ourselves walking through "a plantation of white willows" just like the instructions said. We were on the right track after all.

The next section was the most testing. For the next half mile there was a relentless climb through Combe Wood. At the top of the wood, we saw daylight and again as expected, a private golf fairway with a selection of flags posted in a variety of greens.

We stopped to catch our breath and take on some refreshments for a short while. There was a slight drizzle in the air which threatened to worsen as we collected up our bags, but we didn't think waterproofs were necessary. Our attention was drawn by the sight of an Oak and Beech tree fused together next to a stile which directed us in a south westerly direction.

More fields with sheep and then a walk through an abandoned selection of farm buildings, through which was a track made up of concrete railway sleepers.

A few more hills and we entered Hole Wood. Once again the shamble of signposts disorientated us and we had to retrace our steps for a short distance in order to come out into the correct field which would eventually lead us to houses on the outskirts of Mayfield.

It was a steady walk past the pub and observing one of the more eccentric garden displays in the area and toward the car park completing 6.5 miles. The boots were released from our feet at 12.20pm with pleasure.

Rotherfield Revisited

Just the 3 intrepid hikers set out to complete a 7.5 mile circuit to the north and east of Rotherfield. All members had previously undertaken some working duties in or around the area, which is bordered by woods formerly part of the Ashdown forest. We were looking forward to a mainly woodland walk that would provide shelter from the sun on what turned out to be another extremely warm and sunny morning.
With one eye to the weather we set off early, parking up and commencing our walk from North Street on the edge of the village. Within 10 minutes we turned right onto a Byway that was to be a main feature of our days toils.

After about a mile we headed north onto a footpath that took us down into the valley floor and over the first of several footbridges. We were heading for the dismantled railway line that ran through to Heathfield back in the day as part of the Cuckoo line.

Rotherfield Station
We reached the site of the old station, which was opened in September 1890 after several attempts to raise the capital required had failed. The buildings have long since disappeared as the station was closed in 1968 and has been replaced by a stud farm.

We followed the track north for a further mile and a half before reaching our first woodland, Entryhill woods. We had already been climbing steeply from the railway cutting and continued to climb much to one members distain through the woodland path and back onto the Byway.

 

A further steady climb half a mile brought us to the brow of the hill where we picked up a road bordered to our north by Saxonbury hill, the site of a former fort. Stopping to take on water we were briefly  joined by an inquisitive foal in the adjacent field. Refreshed, we headed along the road for a good mile resplendent in Hi-Vis vest until we reached Great Danegate, a former large farm and oast that had been taken over by a firm of publishers.

 

There were plenty of cob nuts on display throughout our hike but none were ‘ready for the picking’.
After well over an hour of mostly hill climbs we reached the summit as we turned south back onto the Byway and headed steeply downhill on a track that had been shaped by the torrents of water that had cascaded down the track in previous months.

We continued to descend until we reached the valley floor which contained a stream, which now almost disappeared, showed the nearby signs of its previous power. A further footbridge had been added to ensure safe passage and we made this our base for our refueling stop.

Refreshed and at the valley floor, we expected, and were not disappointed, by the steep climb through Card’s wood and then Hoth wood to once more cross underneath the dismantled railway, via a small bridge.

 We entered Little Millhole wood to find another elaborate two staged footbridge to safely take us across a small water course, before crossing the road and having to backtrack a couple of hundred yards to find our entrance point into Hornhurst wood.

We continued to climb and with the absence of signage emerged from the woods by Sweet Meadow farm before walking back to the start point. An arduous 3 hour walk which seemed mostly to contain lengthy uphill segments punctuated by short steep downhill segments, a very challenging but enjoyable morning well spent in great company!

Exceat Exercise Expedition

There had been a break from the usual weekly routine of hiking across the local terrain, so the group of 5 were keen to tread some miles and lever the boots on outside the Cuckmere Inn which overlooks the Seven Sisters Country Park.
The forecast meant that there was little reason to carry waterproofs and only headed out with a
variety of light snacks and plenty of water.
The route took us from the car park onto the footpath south toward the coast, but no sooner getting into our stride we turned west and followed the footpath onto Chyngton Lane.

The hedgerows were showing signs of an abundance of unripened blackberries. We watched also as a herd of cattle were politely queuing to drink from a gurgling water trough. They clearly had seen the forecast as we had and thought wisely about the amount of water required to survive the day.

We arrived at the junction of the lane and the main coastal link road between Seaford and Eastbourne. Traffic was frequent but we soon managed to find safe passage to the other side.

We entered a continuation of the same lane on the opposite side until we turned onto a narrow grass track, which would lead us to meet the Alfriston Road. Toward the end of this footpath we came across a bottle of water and a dog bowl. Clearly it was a dog friendly gesture to ensure the dogs were being hydrated by a kindly local resident.
The track, after crossing the Alfriston Road, started to climb gradually. A flock in excess of 200 sheep filled the field to our right. Their conversation was only occasionally translated into intelligible expletives although they were all enjoying the sunshine and views as much as we were.

We reached the elevated point on Frog Firle and were soon walking alongside a hedgerow of sloes which were also showing signs of potential ripening. Nobody was brave enough to sample it however reflected on the merits of previously making Sloe Gin in a past life.

We were now walking amongst the sheep referred to previously and they seemed willing to allow us free passage through whilst watching various off-spring still determined to sucker nourishment from their mothers.
We reached the end of the field having viewed the valley below to our left.

The Rathfinny Estate has been establishing one of the finest vineyards in the country in this area. Read more.

We started a steady descent towards the river below, under the gaze of the white horse. As we crossed the bridge we stopped and rested for a short snack and to ensure our hydration levels were at an optimum level.

The river path was our route back toward the car park. There were 4 women on the opposite bank that gave rise to our concerns. They were static, staring across toward the edge of the wood beyond us. Not certain what it was about exactly, but were glad to get pass them without any curse or spell put on us.... well no evidence of it thus far.

We saw a 'herd' of fish swimming back and forth as black headed gulls swooped down to consider a catch of the day. A little further and a 'challenge' of canadian geese stood firm on the opposite bank. A couple of dogs were mildly tempted to make a chase of it, but were under strict command of their owner not to... (we assumed).

There was little more to do but cross the busy coastal road again having given directions to some young lost looking tourist types who were in search of the seven sisters. We sent them in the opposite direction. (no, we didn't really!)
We released our boots having completed the 5.5 miles circuit and not feeling too exhausted despite the sun beating down on the cars that were giving an excessively high temperature reading of almost 30 deg C... til the next time.

The Heat is On (Glenn Frey - 1984)

The weather forecast spoke of it being the hottest day this year with threats of storms later, but that wasn't going to stop the 5 strong pose gathering under the gaze of the Long Man in Wilmington.
With due consideration to the fluids to carry and which direction to undertake the circuitous venture we strolled toward the church's graveyard and paid our respects to the majestic Yew tree, chained and supported in position.

The fields were turning more golden and made an easy paced stride down the first few fields toward Milton Street and onwards towards the river Cuckmere.
The breeze was keeping a cooling pressure on our face as we walked alongside the river. Cattle grazed on the opposite bank and watched us with some curiosity. The temperature was rising to the high 20s at this point and before we turned into the small village of Littlington we stopped on a bench which was conveniently in the shade and took on much needed fluids. After a brief exchange with a dog walker who was checking for cattle occupancy we saddled up and moved onto the road for a short time and then followed the road toward Clapham  Farm. Running up the lane appeared to be an option for a couple of us, but soon ceased when the shade of trees became a more attractive idea.
At the top of the hill the activity of agricultural machinery filled the air. The rampant tossing of hay or straw was maintaining the attention of the driver as we crossed his path with little awareness of our presence it seemed.

We continued to soak in the blue-skied landscaped which surrounded the top of the hill. The bleating sheep echoed from a nearby field. Another small hill, then we dropped into a short wooded area that gave much appreciated shade.

The heat was causing some serious melt-down conditions in several of us and another liquid re-fuel was required before walking up the next half mile incline. On several occasions we had come across a flurry (or plague?) of blue butterflies (common blue?) that were attracted to piles of fresh horse poo! Once at the top, it was a chance to take a rewarding break and look out across Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve. Meanwhile the peaceful surroundings were almost deafening as the gentle breeze kept us all ventilated (to a degree).

A final stretch and we were navigating our way across toward Windover Hill. We stopped and admired more landscaped vistas across toward Firle Beacon.

A half later we were overlooking the Long Man of Wilmington and checking on water levels in Arlington Reservoir and viewed upon the unique patchwork of fields that lay beneath us.

As we descended the hill we noted the recently reported 'corn circle' that had appeared overnight a few weeks ago. It was but a simple pattern that could have been quickly overlooked as a practice circular attempt which didn't warrant further expansion. Either that, or the designers were caught amidst their valiant treading of corn stalks.
We had concluded our walk registering 7.6 miles on the pedometer in around 3 hours. Rehydration was the order of the day in the hope of cooler walks to come.

Aromatherapy & Alpacas

The Hikers were out in force, as the 5 strong team of booted personnel congregated in the car park of the Merrie Harriers, Cowbeech with the July sunshine already raising the temperature to around 19°C. We'd stated that we should approach this venture as a 'stroll' and not a challenging route march as the heat was destined to rise to the mid 20's.
The lane opposite the pub invited our steps for the first mile, that soon turned into faithful footpaths. The lanes were only occupied with the occasional Range Rovers today and a healthy wave of acknowledgement as we stood aside was offered in gratitude rather than recognition.
A horse and its rider trotted passed us, commenting upon the rarity of seeing 5 men out hiking along the local lanes.... we assured her that it happens very rarely.

We then came across the site of some Alpacas in a farm yard area. Dr Doolittle of our group tempted them for some affectionate stroking (so he informed us) however we were more concerned that one in particular was setting up his aiming technique for some saliva driven target practice. We quickly turned and got back into our stride.

Down a short track and we were soon in the sheltered area of a small wooded area before entering into the large orchard full of fruit laden trees of Greenway Fuit Farm. Firstly pears, then apples and some plums. Rows of cherry trees were captured in nets to stop tempting birds to devour the produce. But not only the sight but the smell of fresh fruit permeated the fields as we walked, and the large pylons towered over the entire area.

We arrived on the lane and walked a short distance to another field where normally horses are grazing. However today, there were no livestock and the following field only had a collection of large circular black plastic bundles of hay, grazing quietly. To the north the views of the Weald were illuminated by cloudless blue sky and bright sunshine.

We crossed over the main Cowbeech road and entered more fields. This time crops of sweetcorn were in partial growth with no sign of cob development yet. We again entered another small wooded area (Little Gensing Wood) which we surmised was being used to cultivate chestnut trees for using as stakes. We found a small area of cut logs where we then sat and took on fluids and a small snack.

We crossed another field before walking down the long drive of Blackford Farm. Through the heart of the farm and out the other side along a concrete drive, we turned right and came out to cross our last challenge, whilst looking at what appeared to be 2 large soaring birds of prey, the name of which escaped us all even though we had several good guesses. The challenge that lay ahead of us was not just a field of new growth of grass, but in it was a tractor, spreading fountains of liquid manure. Thankfully he had gone to the top end of the field, however we had to encounter the area of field over which he had just spread the contents of the trailer. The aroma was noticeable and was in complete contrast to the more pleasant and distinct fragrance of the fruit farm. In fear of both our lives and the tractor returning, we hastily walked to the gate through which we could escape the perils of further muck spreading.

Our final half mile back to the pub was a simple trek along the road which connected Cowbeech to Vines Cross (Hammer Lane). We arrived at the car to discover (just by chance) that the pub was open for business. It seemed only right to take a beverage there, as they'd be kind enough to provide their car park to us. Re-hydration was accomplished within half hour unlike our 2 hour, 4.5 mile stroll.
I'll drink to that!