Bolney circular

By Eddie Start

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Bolney village sits adjacent to the busy A23 London to Brighton road, and just off the A272, but it is far enough away to have retained its village atmosphere and character.

There is the church, plus the school, a post office and plenty of community activity. This walk heads off into the surrounding wooded countryside, with a jarring reminder that the busy main road is never too far away.

1.From the main street in Bolney, with The Eight Bells pub behind you, ascend the steps that lead through the lychgate of the church of St Mary Magdalene.

Walk towards the church, keeping to the left of the substantial tower, and head for the exit at the far side of the churchyard.

With the primary school on the left and a recreation ground to the right, bear left to an enclosed footpath, leading to an open field. Proceed along the left hedgeline for 600 yards to the junction of Ryecroft Road and the old London Road.

Cross the old London Road and descend through an underpass beneath the busy A23. At the far side, turn left up steps on a footpath and in 50 yards cross a stile on the right. Enter Bolney Wood and follow the twisting, undulating path for a quarter-ofa- mile to a minor road. Turn right down the road.

2.In 300 yards, at a right turn in the road, climb the footpath up a bank on the left. In 100 yards, the path turns left across open meadow, coming to an enclosed section beside a pond, in 400 yards.

Climb the rising path to a minor road beside a house called Raggets.

Cross the road taking the ongoing footpath between Long Wood and Black Forest. Follow the signs through the woods, going right in 150 yards and then left in 125 yards. Descend through Long Wood to a road.

Turn left up the road, passing Merrybrook on the right, and at the top of the hill, in 400 yards, take a right footpath turn. Pass through the metal gate and descend the field, with hedge on the right. Cross a brook and take the signed left turn around the edge of the field. Keep to the left hedgeline, somewhat tediously almost circumnavigating the field, to a metal gate beside a cattle trough.

Go through the gate, bearing right and descending on the path, crossing a stream bridge and taking the signed footpath up a bank on the left to a meadow. Turn left to follow the left hedgeline; there are paddocks to the right.

Follow the twisting field edge for nearly half-a-mile, crossing a midway stile, to a distant left corner. Cross a plank bridge going left into a short section of woodland, where there is an enormous oak tree ahead.

At a three-way path junction in 100 yards continue straight on. Enter an open field, walk along the left edge for 300 yards, dropping left into woodland over a brick culvert, bearing to the left and climbing to a metal gate.

Turn right across the field to pass through a hedge opening on the right in 250 yards. In a few paces turn left, follow a footpath behind a housing development on the right, cross a stile on the enclosed footpath and descend to a service road beside the main road.

3.Turn right up the road, with the cacophony of traffic noise precluding any conversation. At the road bridge at Pitts Head Crossroads, pass beneath this, turn right at its far side and in a few paces climb steps on the right. At the top of the steps, turn right to cross the bridge, then pass over the junction at the far side.

The next half-mile is along the road edge using, wherever possible, the grass verge and bank. Care must be exercised along this section, as the road can be very busy. Walk along the road and at the entrance to Southgate Farm in half-a-mile turn left onto a footpath.

4.Follow the signed path between the farm buildings, passing a stable block on the right. Where the farm drive turns sharply to the left in 200 yards, drop to a metal gate on the right and enter the paddock. Cross directly to the far side and enter North Gravelies Wood on the signed path.

On emerging from the trees, descend towards North Gravelies Farm. Keep to the main path across the front of the farmhouse and drop to a chainlink squeeze gate, over a plank bridge. Enter the next field and in 50 yards pass through another squeeze gate in the left hedgeline.

Turn right and at the top of the rise turn right over a bridge and stile, then left through a metal gate. Follow the path along the left side of the field passing through an enclosed section at the far side, with a pond to the left, dropping to a track close to Playdells Farm.

Cross to the opposite field and bear left over a series of paddock stiles, finally taking the signed left direction at a small, wooden stable block. Cross a stile and follow the enclosed path to a drive and minor road beside North Cottage. Turn left along the road.

5.Just after a double bend take the signed footpath on the right, in 200 yards, beside Firdene. Descend over a meadow, crossing a track in 200 yards and entering the extensive grounds of Wykehurst Park.

The path drops to a far left field corner stile, going over a culvert and climbing through the woodland.

Continue southward on the twisting path for half-a-mile, passing a large electricity cable pylon and finally cresting the hill. Descend beneath a stone bridge to arrive beside houses at the north end of Bolney.

Follow the road ahead, leading down through the village, passing the park and residences and finally coming back to the starting point beside the village pub.