From the quiet and attractive village of Chiddingly, this walk by Ben Perkins heads south following part of a ‘green lane’, possibly on the line of a trackway of Roman origin.
1 - Start the walk through Chiddingly churchyard, keeping to the right of the church. Go over a stile and head half-left across the village recreation ground to find a stile in the far left corner, then go forward along a left field-edge.
In the field corner, go over a footbridge and follow an enclosed path within the right edge of woodland. After another 200 yards or so, turn right over a stile, follow a right field-edge to a second stile, veer half-left across the next field to a third stile, then along a right field- edge to join a lane.
2 - Follow the road opposite, signposted to Golden Cross. After about 150 yards, just past a block of neglected woodland on your left, turn left along a grass track to go over a stile to the left of a gate set back from the road.
Head half-right across a field, passing to the right of an area of woodland and then aiming for the far right field-corner where you will find another stile.
Go forward through a belt of woodland to a stile, disregarding another stile on your left.
Once out of the wood, turn left along a left field-edge. Ignoring a signed path to the left, go forward with a wood on your left. After 70 yards, go ahead over a footbridge and follow a woodland path out to a road where you turn right. Follow this road to the A22.
3 - Cross the main road with care and follow the track opposite, which takes a straight course lined by low banks and mature trees. It is a fine old green lane, probably of ancient origin, which eventually feeds into a lane where you should go straight ahead.
After about 200 yards, turn right along a wide grassy path to a set-back stile and gate and walk through a neglected meadow to another stile From here back to Chiddingly you will be following part of the generally well waymarked Vanguard Way, a long-distance route for walkers linking East Croydon station and the coast at Seaford.
Once over the stile, go ahead along a tarmac drive which takes you out to a lane where you should turn right.
4 - After about 100 yards, turn left along a path which winds through a derelict overgrown area to a stile beside a gate. Now follow the left edge of three fields with stiles between them.
Once into the fourth field, veer slightly left across it to go over a stile to the right of a gate, then veer half-right across the next field to a stile and plank bridge leading out to a road.
5 - Go over the stile opposite, right for five yards to a second stile and on along a left field-edge. In the corner, go over a stile beside a gate and along a grass path which soon passes to the right of a barn, which may be occupied by Angora goats.
Join and turn right along the drive from the Mohair Centre, following it to the B2124 road.
Cross the road, go over the stile opposite, then along a left field-edge and a subsequent narrow, overgrown path out to the A22. Turn left along the wide near-side verge.
6 - After a little over 100 yards, turn right across the road and over a stile built into a gate. Go ahead along a left field-edge and through a belt of woodland.
Out into the next field, veer slightly right, aiming for a stile beside a gate with the spire of your final objective, Chiddingly Church, in view ahead. Head squarely across the next field to another stile and slightly left across the field beyond, passing a finger post indicating a crossing path.
Go over a stile in the next hedge and ahead across a field where a path should be established through any growing crop. On the other side of the field, in the corner, just short of a stile, which is not for you, go left along a narrow woodland path. About 10 yards beyond a footbridge, fork right.
At a four-arm fingerpost, turn right and leave the wood over a plank bridge and stile. Head half-left across a field corner to a gate with Chiddingly Church directly ahead. Cross the next field, aiming to the right of the church, to join a road over a recently constructed bridge across a ditch. Turn left for five yards, then right into Chiddingly recreation ground. Return through the churchyard to the start.
- Distance/Time: Five miles/two and a half hours.
- By Car: Start from Chiddingly which is signposted northwards from the A22, a short distance east of Golden Cross. Park in the village car park at GR 644142.
- By Public Transport: None convenient.
- What’s underfoot: An easy, level walk along good, well signed, paths. One potentially overgrown, path near point six.
- Thirsty Work: Pub at Chiddingly. Tea rooms (seasonal) at point six (Holmes Hill).
- So you don’t get lost: OS Explorer 123.
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