Cowfold circular

By Eddie Start

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Pretty Cowfold stands at the busy junction of the east-west A272 road and the road between Horsham and Henfield. From each corner of the crossroads is a wide choice of walking routes which lead out into the surrounding landscape. On this walk we head off to the south-west, making for the small village of Littleworth, with the prominent spire of Parkminster monastery a constant landmark.

1.From the main crossroads and roundabout at the centre of Cowfold head a few yards north to the lychgate entrance to the church of St Peter. Pass through the lychgate and make for the corner of the church tower, skirting around the headstones.

Turn left at the corner of the tower and walk to the exit point at the far corner of the churchyard. Follow the footpath, going right, and enter a short section of shrub-tunnel, clearing the hedgerow to carry on beside the village school.

The enclosed path takes a sharp left turn and in 200 yards turns right over a plank bridge.

Continue along the path, with a copse on the left and extensive views south to the Downs. It is also possible from this point to identify the spire of Parkminster monastery.

In 250 yards, at the end of the enclosed path, enter a field and skirt left around a small pond on the right to an opposite fence line. Turn left to a stile and take the enclosed path beside Gervaise Cottage. Turn right across a stile and walk ahead in the next field to a plank bridge, then strike off half-left to cross a stile in the hedge in 200 yards.

Turn left for a few yards and then divert right along a field edge to a footbridge. Climb out from the bridge to enter a field with paddocks at the far side.

Make for the paddock fences, maintain direction along the right field edge, through the confusing stiles, to a minor road and turn left.

2.In 200 yards turn right between the buildings of Clockhouse Farm and, in a few yards, just after the farmhouse, cross a stile on the left.

Continue along the right field edge and turn left to cross a stile on the right, in 50 yards.

In the next field follow the hedgeline a few yards away on the left. Keep to the hedge for 200 yards and, at the midway point, cross a stile on the left, turn right and continue across the field to a minor road.

Turn left up the road and in 150 yards take the first signed footpath on the right which heads south-west along a treebordered farm track to a collection of buildings in 300 yards.

Go left over a stile a few yards away, beside Moon Wood. In the next field, walk ahead towards the obvious, dilapidated, wooden barn.

Pass to the left of the barn and keep direction along the left edge of the field. Cross a succession of fields, passing through gates, finally descending towards Well Land Farm.

3.Pass through a metal gate on the left, with the farmhouse to the right, and take a half-right line across the next field. Keep direction across the following field, crossing a stream and climbing to cross a stile next to Chuck’s Farm.

Immediately turn right to a gate in 50 yards, pass through and turn left up the field. Follow the path into a second field, climbing to two stiles in the top left corner. Turn left along the right fence line and cross right into a paddock, after a barn on the right. Descend the left edge of the paddock towards houses at Littleworth.

Turn right along the village street, passing The Windmill pub on the right, and after 125 yards, cross to take a footpath beside a house called South Lodge.

4.Follow the descending path as it curves right and, at a path junction in 350 yards, take the left branch. Follow the rising path over a junction and in 300 yards turn half-left, climbing towards the buildings of Parkminster Farm. The monastery is on the skyline.

At an intersection of tracks, with the farm on the right, the onward footpath climbs to a three-way junction. Turn left in 150 yards towards the house called Mockford, diverting left on the path which descends and crosses a grassed area in front of the cottage wall.

5.At the far side of the sward, drop leftward down a bank and, just before a footpath sign on the left, in an area of scrub, turn sharp right and climb up the rising field edge. Walk across the top of the meadow, passing a marker post in a short row of trees, and head for a stile adjacent to a track.

Enter the next field and at its far side, cross a stile and turn right along the fence-line for short distance to a gate. In the following field make for a sign a few yards ahead and turn left, back towards the left hedgeline across the field. (You may decide, as you come through the last gate, that taking the immediate left hedgeline is a less circuitous route.)

Walk to the top left corner of the field, do not pass through the gates but turn right on a bridleway, along the fence line.

Pass some isolated trees and in a few yards go left through a bridle gate.

Follow the enclosed bridleway, to a gate in the right hedge. Pass through and turn left down the field on a footpath. Take a right fork, just after a field corner, soon crossing a footbridge over a stream. From here you can see Gervaise Cottage, a point we passed earlier, across the field to the half-right.

Head for the cottage, cross the adjacent stile to the enclosed footpath and follow our outward route, back across the next field to the path that leads to the school and church at Cowfold.