1 - Head north along the pavement beside Water Lane at Wiston, passing the junction with Spithandle Lane and continue on Hole Street for 200 yards.

When opposite Abbot’s House, which is on the right, turn left through an opening and pass through double metal gates. Walk up the right field edge, taking a left turn in 200 yards and a right turn in another 100 yards. Climb the slope ahead, then turn left for 50 yards to a junction of tracks.

Turn right and immediately go right again, through a hedge opening, turning left along a field edge towards a stand of pine trees. Skirt right, then left around the trees, heading for, and passing through, a hedge opening at the top of the field.

Walk across the next rising field, keeping direction, towards farm buildings. Walk ahead between the outbuildings of Upper Chancton Farm, passing the farmhouses and continuing to a large, green-faced barn at the top of the low hill.

2 - Turn right just after the barn, walking over a clearing and a small caravan paddock. Cross a stile and bear quarter-left down to woodland. Descend through Birch Copse for 200 yards to a three-way sign and turn right for 100 yards to a stile. Continue along the lower left edge of the next sloping field, passing through a narrow stand of trees and turning left.

Follow the field edge for a quarter of a mile; pass around a gate, cross a gravel drive, and go through a gate to a minor road.

Take a few paces right and cross to the opposite hedge-enclosed footpath. Follow the path for 200 yards to a crossing path, continuing ahead for 150 yards between hedgerow and taking the right footpath turn (ignore the left turning). Climb the path, and then pass left and right around the north end of Trickles Wood.

3 - After 250 yards descend to a stile and bear half-left across a meadow. Do not cross the bridge on the right but keep ahead along the right hedgeline, making for a distant metal field gate. Pass through and immediately turn right on an unsigned path, descending beneath trees, crossing above a stream and climbing to a small meadow.

Walk along the right hedgeline and cross a stile into a copse. Follow the path ahead to a surfaced bridleway. Turn right down the bridleway (North Lane) for one third of a mile to Hole Street. Walk ahead, southward, down the roadside with care, keeping to the grass verge and continuing along Water Lane, to Wiston and the tearooms at the old post office.

Distance/Time: Three and three quarter miles taking one and a half hours

By Car: On-street parking close to the Wiston Granary tea rooms. Turn north from A283 road and travel for one third of a mile for roadside parking on the east side of Water Lane. Start point grid ref: TQ144141

By Public Transport: Compass Travel bus from Steyning, alight at Buncton crossroads and walk along Water Lane to the start of walk – about ten minutes. Travel details from www.traveline.info, call 0871 200 22 33

What’s underfoot: Level walking across farm meadows, pasture and woodland; a few short slopes but no steep climbs and a few gates and stiles. Short section of, generally quiet, road walking at finish – use grass verge as necessary. Possible with a baby backpack; not possible with an off-road baby buggy.

Thirsty Work: The Wiston Granary tearooms at the start/finish

So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer map 121, plus a compass for general direction

Click here for a full-sized map of the Wiston walk