Ditchling circular

By Eddie Start

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Starting from the village of Ditchling, this walk climbs briefly to a fine viewpoint on Lodge Hill before heading northwards to reach the southern edge of Ditchling Common.

A delightful path through Blackbrook Wood is followed by a short section along an ancient droveway, once used to take cattle between their winter and summer pastures. The final field path back to Ditchling, although well signed and stiled, needs careful navigation where the route description needs to be followed with some care.

1.From the crossroads in the centre of the village of Ditchling, start the walk along West Street, passing the parish church on the right and the 16th-century Wing’s Place on the left.

Shortly, turn right along Lodge Hill Lane. Soon after passing the village pond on your right, turn right along Boddingtons Lane. After 60 yards go left along a permissive path which takes you up to the top of Lodge Hill, a modest summit but with rewarding views across the village to the Downs.

From the highest point, go ahead across grass to rejoin Lodge Hill Lane through a squeeze stile beside a gate and turn right.

2.After a few yards go left over a stile and bear right along the top of a grassy slope with more views westwards along the line of the Downs to Wolstonbury Hill.

Beyond a stile the path continues between fences. Over another stile bear left for a few yards to reach Oldlands Mill, built in 1703 and now approaching complete restoration after many years of work by enthusiastic volunteers.

In front of the mill, fork right and, after a few yards where you have a choice of two parallel signed routes ahead, follow the one on the right, a sunken path between banks, eventually feeding into the unmade drive from an industrial site which takes you out to a road.

3.Turn right, using the minimal verge path on the right. After about 250 yards go right along Wellhouse Lane. Where the main drive ends at the start of the unmade track to Well Cottage, side-step to the right into a field and resume your previous direction, along the left field edge.

In the field corner cross a sleeper causeway and keep to the left edge of an area of rough pasture and young trees, then carry on within a wide grass strip and along the access drive from a stable.

4.A few yards short of a road, fork left along a rough path which brings you out on to the road about 70 yards north of the drive entrance. Cross the road and go over a stile almost opposite.

Now head diagonally out across the middle of a field to find and cross a bridge over the railway, then turn right to walk round two sides of a large field.

In the far left field corner go over a ladder stile and double back to the right along a grassy path to a stile and along a left field edge to another stile from which a short enclosed path leads out to Spatham Lane.

5.Go left for a few yards to a road junction and turn right beside Middleton Common Lane. After 60 yards, turn right between staggered railings and follow a clear, intermittently waymarked path through Blackbrook Wood.

After about two thirds of a mile, at the far end of the wood, when opposite a bridle gate on your left, turn right along a path, heading southwards, within the left edge of the wood at first.

Pass under the railway, over a footbridge and on along an enclosed path. After about 200 yards, go right through a squeeze stile and follow a trodden grassy strip between two mown areas, part of a golf course. Join and follow a tarmac golfers’ path over a footbridge. Where this path bends left, go ahead along the

6.After a little over 100 yards, go left through a gap in the hedge on your left and head for the red-roofed clubhouse, once again walking within a rough grassy strip between golf playing areas.

Converge on a right-hand hedge to find a hidden stile and plank bridge taking you through the hedge.

Turn left and follow a signed path which passes about 30 yards to the left of the club house and car park. Go forward through a hedge gap and after 30 yards, veer halfright past a pile of rubble to follow an indistinct path through an area of young trees to the next stile. Maintain direction across the field beyond, past a power pole, to join a lane over a stile.

7.Cross the road and enter the drive to Stocks Farm but, after a few yards, go left over a stile. Head half-right across a field to find the next stile about 60 yards to the right of the far corner and cross the next field to a stile, also in the far left corner. Maintain direction across a third field to another stile, immediately to the right of the field corner.

Go ahead along a left field edge. After 60 yards, go left over a stile and through a small copse to a gate. Now head half-right across a free-range poultry area, passing to the right of the chicken house.

Go through a gap in the field corner, forward for 50 yards, then left over a plank bridge and stile and forward to a gate in the perimeter fence of the poultry area.

8.Cross a drive, go over the stile and plank bridge, opposite, and head squarely out across a horse paddock and the next field. Go over a stile and ahead along a path, enclosed at first, which takes you out to a drive. Turn right, and after a few yards, cross a lane and follow the grassy path, opposite, which passes between houses and gardens to reach the B2116. Turn right back to the start.