Nigel Parrish - Blog thing!

Walderton - South Downs circular walk

A pre walk for what will be a great guided walk in the South Downs. I was walking with my friend Fred and wanted to find some walking routes that were not on the usual South Downs Way downland; this walk has great potential, passing through some fantastic mature and ancient woodland, open downland and quiet country. Surprisingly decent underfoot considering all the rain and would be a good choice for an all seasons walk. The autumn Sussex countryside did not disappoint and the range of walking routes starting at this quiet corner of the South Downs National Park will see me returning soon.

A very wet days walking but surprisingly decent underfoot. A great mix of open countryside, quiet lanes and some stunning mature and ancient woodland. The day brightened in the afternoon when we got up onto the downs at Bow Hill and we even had some decent views over to The Trundle.

I met up with Fred at a parking area near the village of Walderton in the pouring rain. Fully waterproofed up we headed out of the village on Woodlands Lane. This attractive tress lined lane was traffic free and a great warm up before we headed properly off road.

The days walk started on the very quiet Woodlands Lane just outside of Walderton. A very pretty stretch of lane with autumn colours, and good warm up for the next off road sections

The walk had the right mix of woodland tracks, paths and quiet lanes. The autumn leaves were still clinging to the tress and added a splash of 'colour' to the drabness of the day.

Firm underfoot as we passed through Wythy Piece woodland - nice mix of woodland and hazel coppice

Attractive small valley heading up towards Grevitts Copse - still raining but a hint of a brightening sky

The area had a great mix of footpaths and also plenty of bridleways. Next time I will be returning with the bike to explore the potential for some guided mountain bike routes

The walk routes was devised as a pre walk for its potential as a south downs guided walk, but not the usual walk using sections of the South Downs Way. Nothing worng with that part of Sussex but there is so much more to the area and just in this quiet corner the potential for a great days walking. The number of bridleways also means the route could be adapted as a guided mountain bike ride and the firm tracks and paths leads itself to the routes being walked, or ridden most of the year. Even after all the rain most of the walk was good enough underfoot with only a few deeply muddy sections to skirt around.

Heading towards the western edge of Inholmes Wood and open access woodland section of the walk

The bonus of woodland walking - the potential for finding a log to sit on and have some lunch and a cup of coffee!

Wildhams Wood - wet lunchtime selfie!

This beech boundary line was very long and looking at the size of the trees, very old. The boundary changed to yew a bit further along and then petered out as we got to the top of the ridgeline. A lot of the walk was in mature woodland and a return visit as the seasons change would be interesting.

Part of a long ancient beech boundary along the edge of track as we headed north to 'The Plantation' above Chilgrove

The sun started to shine as we walked along the top of the downs tracks towards Bow Hill. We decided against dropping down to Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve on this occasion but did get some great views of the mass of yew trees as we walked.

First glimmer of the sun as we walked across the top of the downs towards Bow Hill

Bow Hill dew pond with a handy bench and great view across towards St Roche's and 'The Trundle'

The woodland continued right until we started descending down the narrow hedge lined bridleway at Adsdean Down towards Walderton Down.

The stunning autumn woodland colours continued as we headed south west towards Walderton Dow

Last views of the day and great finish to the walk in sunshine. Stunning Sussex downland countryside and view back up the hill to the woodland beyond. The route was around 22km and just the right length for a late autumn walk.

*Walderton Downs looking back towards the bridle way on Adsdean Down'