A rewarding detour around the former gravel pit will add half a mile. Otherwise, go south along Cripplegate Road. Take the marked route right. Follow through a car park and exit right onto Mill Straight, then first left into Shipley Road. The next footpath is ahead by Babbacombe.

Enter the Dragons Estate. Go ahead at a crossing footpath by a four-way fingerpost. Continue at an angled fingerpost where the path veers right behind houses. From here fingerposts, for half mile, indicate the way through Blinks Wood and a series of fields ending at a gate and a path leading to a lane. Turn left and pass brick cottages. Oakwood is next door. Take the right path across a lawn to the left of this property, through a gate into Birch Wood and Marlpost Woods. The way straight ahead for half a mile is well marked and undulates down to a footbridge. The route rises and levels to reach Marlpost Lane, beyond a metal gate.

Opposite right, the footpath continues, through a gate into a field. Keep left and a second gate leads to a wide track. Cross, left, by a four-point fingerpost. Maintain the same direction along the right edge of two fields joined by a gated footbridge. A marker post indicates the way between trees into a third field. Continue ahead at a three-way fingerpost.

Descend to the end of the field, signs direct a right turn into a wide grass track and then left after 25 yards. Pass through two linked pastures keeping to the right. A gate in the corner of the second leads across a plank bridge and right into Trout Lane.

Walk along Cross Lane, then right into Emms Lane, signposted Barns Green. In 250 yards, take the footpath at the fingerpost with a hydrant sign. Cross a style and follow the path, along the field edge to a concealed bridge with a white concrete post in the far corner. Climb into the next field and walk ahead to gates. Do not go through but continue along the way marked field edge. Cross the railway line carefully, remembering to stop, look and listen.

The path leads to The Hordens. Go right. At Two Mile Ash Road turn left and just before the junction with Chapel Road, follow the signed footpath between houses and a school, ignoring the left path midway, into The Queens Head car park. Take the track opposite the pub, Smugglers Lane. In 150 yards this path meets the Literary Trail. Turn right. In 75 yards Muntham Drive and the entrance to Muntham House School will be visible. Before continuing along the Trail through a gate, look at the school sign that informs Mutham House School is a ‘specialist community’ and has outstanding accolades.

Turn left at the first four post marker and pass the imposing school building. Cross the drive. The path continues through the grounds to a bridleway track. Proceed right.

Bear right at The Linseed Farm until the track re-joins the Literary Trail. In 150 yards, at the point where the sports field left ends, take the footpath right at a four-way marker, through a hedge, across the centre of a field, descending through trees, keeping to the left of a further field to Plumtree Cross Lane. The way marker 25 yards left can be seen. Take the farm road at Middle Lodge. Just beyond a barn, a style indicates a rising footpath. At the top, cross the style and hug the brick ha-ha. Beyond the wall end, cross a style and go left along a bridleway for 175 yards that bounds Marlands to a path on the right and onto a track across open country. A mast is visible left. At a T-junction, where the fingerpost indicates right, turn left up the track passing the summit of Sharpenhurst Hill. Christ Hospital School is easily picked out right. Where the track meets a footpath, follow this right, through trees, to the railway. As before, cross with care.

Find the Downs Link path, through a gate and walk left for 150 yards. At a metal public bridleway sign leave the Downs Link and enter Christ’s Hospital School estate. The bridleway goes right at the school estate road. The bridleway is indicated right by a large oak. Playing fields are on the left. Leave the school via a gate leading to a left-pointing sign at a metal gate. The official path is overgrown. Go over the style and keep left to the field corner and then right, in the same field, passing a small pond to re-join the Downs Link through a gate. Turn left.

Go under a road bridge and just beyond. Walkers are invited to sample the Bax Castle’s real ales and fresh food. Beyond the pub, follow the footpath right, between houses. Over a style into pasture, between trees and the edge of Courtland Wood. A style in the far left corner leads through the wood for 150 yards, where a style on the right leads into a field. At a metal gate on the left, walk diagonally right to a way sign that is visible on the same field left edge next to another metal gate.

Go forward through Great House Farm where a step style gives access. Pass a pond and stream, between barns and leave by another step style. Cross the field to a three-way marker. Take the left route over a style, ahead through another field and right onto a track. In 100 yards the Downs Link is re-joined. Take the Link, left, initially across grass, then through a gate that implores ‘close quietly’ into Southwater. In ¾ mile the start of the walk will be reached.

The essentials

DISTANCE/TIME: Eight and half miles, taking four and quarter hours.

BY CAR: Park in Southwater Country Park car park. GR TQ161259.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Southwater, opp Country Park Metrobus, 98,198 298, 398. Mill Straight, 23. Access at point 5 from Christ’s Hospital station.

WHAT’S UNDERFOOT: Woodland footpaths initially, then mainly level tracks and footpaths across fields and open country. Children and pets must be supervised when crossing the Arun Valley Line.

THIRSTY WORK: Country Park Café, The Queen’s Head Barns Green. Bax Castle Two Mile Ash Road, The Lintot Southwater. SO YOU DON’T GET LOST: OS Landranger 198 Brighton & The Downs. OS Explorer map 134.