1 - From the northernmost roundabout in Cowfold, turn left into Station Road, part of the A272 cross-county road, keeping to the north pavement. In 300 yards cross over the access road to Thornden, continuing for a few yards to take a footpath turning on the right, passing behind houses. In a few yards bear left, then divert right on to a rising footpath.

Climb to the top of the low hill and enter pleasant woodland, soon descending to a field-edge footbridge in 250 yards. Cross the field, quarter-left, heading for a copse, and climb beneath trees to a meadow edge.

Turn right along the edge of the meadow for 100 yards. In the next field take a half-left line to the opposite corner. Pass through the edge of woodland, between ponds, and turn right up a field boundary for 30 yards to cross a footbridge and stile.

2 - Climb half-left across a meadow to the top left corner. From a four-way signpost and a hedge opening, take neither side turning but continue ahead beside hedgerow on a rise between Northfield Farm and Northfield Wood.

At the next field corner, in 200 yards, turn left, crossing a narrow section of field and descending through scrub to Burnthouse Lane. Turn right for 150 yards to the isolated West Lodge and cross a stile, left of the cottage.

Climb the field ahead, keeping right of a pine tree copse, to cross a stile, close to Woldringfold. Go half-left up a bank, there is a house to the left, and on a driveway turn right – ignore other turnings. Follow the surfaced, tree-lined drive down a slope to a junction of tracks, continuing down the drive ahead, signed as a private road, towards a walled garden. As the drive bears right, turn left through a gate, climb for a few yards and then head half-right, through tufty grass, to the far right field corner.

3 - Turn right up a minor road for about 75 yards and just after an isolated bungalow cross left over a stile and walk along a left hedgerow, crossing into Park Lane. Turn right along the lane and in 200 yards, at a road junction, turn left into Newall’s Lane. In about 50 yards cross a stile on the left and head across the field, passing along an impressive row of Lombardy Poplar trees.

Follow the line of the trees for 300 yards, continue to the next left field corner, crossing into a small enclosure, passing a pond, enter a sloping meadow and turn half-right, climbing to the top left corner.

Go left (yellow arrow) into Boyd’s Wood for 150 yards, bearing right to a crossing footpath. Descend right to a gated left turn in 150 yards. Cross a field towards an elevated water tank, there turning right down the field edge to the field corner gate. Walk ahead a short distance and turn left on a surfaced bridleway, passing an exotic plant nursery.

4 - On arriving in Nuthurst village turn right, descending and then climbing beside The Black Horse Inn – too tempting to pass by. Opposite the inn turn left on to a surfaced track and in 100 yards divert right through a gate into a sloping meadow.

Climb half-left across the meadow to the top left corner and there turn right to climb two fields to where the path bears right for about 100 yards and enters the lower slopes of Knight’s Wood.

Climb through the woodland, cross over a track and continue the ascent to a four-way crossing and sign. Cross to the opposite footpath, following the obvious descending path in Home Wood. The path heads north-west through the woodland, passing across a small meadow, crossing stiles and plank bridges, then climbs through Lower Copse to an enclosed path leading to Sedgwick Lane.

5 - Go right and just after the entrance to Home Farm climb a bank on the left, continuing across a meadow towards a wooden kissing gate. Pass through the gate, cross a paddock and follow an enclosed path for 100 yards to a driveway.

Turn left towards Bull’s Farm and just before the farm buildings turn right, between outbuildings, to a gate and into a meadow. Walk ahead a few yards and turn half-left to the field corner.

Bear right along a concrete track and across a field edge to a corner. Go left through a metal kissing gate and keep to the right edge of the next field. At a right field corner, and junction of tracks and hedgerows, cross a stone- constructed stile and walk down a right field edge, crossing right through the hedge in 125 yards, turning left on a wide droving lane.

Walk ahead, as the lane widens, heading for a metal gate, left of Amiesmill Farm. Head half-left across a paddock, descending to trees at the field corner, cross a footbridge and turn left towards Kerves Lane.

6 - Cross the lane to the opposite field entrance, climbing right to a bridle gate and turning left along left hedgeline to a field corner. Go ahead a few paces and turn half-right, crossing the rising field to a gate close to the top right corner.

Cross a track and follow the opposite footpath for 200 yards to a surfaced track beside Chesworth Farm. Turn right, passing around a barrier in a quarter of a mile and climbing to the residential area on Chesworth Lane, in Horsham.

Walk ahead, passing beneath a railway bridge and turn right up Denne Road. In 100 yards cross left towards the parish church, St Mary the Virgin, going right around the church. From the church porch, turn right. Walk to the top end of The Causeway, between period houses, to Blackhorse Way. Turn left for 250 yards to the bus station.

Click here for a full-sized map of the Cowfold to Horsham walk

Distance/Time: Seven miles, taking three and a half hours.

By Car: Parking and drop-off point beside Cowfold recreation ground. Head west to the main crossroads and turn right to the roundabout.

By Public Transport: Stagecoach no 17 bus from Horsham and Brighton stops in Cowfold village, south of the crossroads. Walk north to the starting point of the walk. Buses from Horsham leave from the bus station in Blackhorse Way, which is just south of the Shelley memorial. All of the walks on this south/north traverse can be accessed by public transport. Travel details from www.traveline.info or call 0871 2002233.

What’s underfoot: Wealden walking on footpaths and bridleways, with stiles and gates. Possible with a baby backpack; not possible with an off-road baby buggy.

Thirsty Work: Pubs and shops at Cowfold and Horsham

So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer map 134, plus a compass for general direction.