Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year

Saturday 16th
September 2006
The Wey Canal from Billingshurst to Pulborough.
10 miles
The recent downpours have made a real
difference to the local countryside. The grass has greened up again and water is
running in most of the streams. To take advantage of this, we took a walk along
the Wey South Path. This runs alongside the River Arun and we picked it up from
the A272 just outside Billingshurst. The well signposted footpath goes back and
forth across the river and the canal via a multitude of bridges, locks and flood
gates. The walk we did, of about 10 miles, is incredibly scenic with many
stunning views over small ponds and streams. Plenty of great places for a
picnic. There were lots of birds around too, we saw Winchats, Yellowhammers,
Spotted Flycatchers, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrels, a Buzzard, Willow Warblers, Long-tailed
Tits and loads of woodpeckers.
On top of everything else, this walk takes you through an area that has some of
the finest houses to be found in the whole of Sussex. The area is very
horsey and in the latter stages of the walk you will find yourself walking
through paddocks, race tracks and bridleways. It's all completely stunning and
reeks of large Swiss accounts full of cash.

We left Billingshurst at midday and the weather was
perfect.


The pathway is mostly very well signposted, but you have
to keep your eyes peeled sometimes to find the little signs that point the
way.

You quite soon come to the first piece of restoration
along this stretch of the canal, The Lording Lock. We had a bit of a snack here
as the local volunteers have kindly left some chairs and tables for passing
walkers.

This harvestman spider visited us while we were snacking.
These scare most people because of their skinny legs. If you take the time to
look, these spiders are fascinating! Their legs seem finer than human hairs and
they walk with a really great bouncing action.

At this point, just a short way up the canal is the
Lordings Flood gate and bridge. There is a picnic table here too. It was a
beautiful spot here today in the sunshine, but we think it would be just as good
here in the middle of winter too.

Every corner gives a new view




This is the Haybarn swing bridge. This is the only point
where we thought the signing for the footpath broke down. You must walk left,
through the farm at this point. Don't turn right like we did.

You see many types of footpath sign when you are walking
in the countryside. Each long distance path has its own sign, but all of the
paths that cross your route can be signed in a multitude of ways. This sign
seems to be of a new sort that we hadn't seen before..

The Wey South footpath goes over so many bridges that we
soon lost count of them.



This was out in the middle of nowhere and it was so quiet
and peaceful.
Owls have good taste in real estate.

There's also a good variety of stiles out there too. This
is the classic.

Not seen too often in Sussex, here is the sliding stile.

And one of my favourites, the doggie stile.

6 hours after leaving Billingshurst we found ourselves in
Pulborough village sitting in front of a large jug of cider. The walk along this
stretch of canal is something we can highly recommend. There are no hills, a
train station and a pub at either end, lots to see, and peace and quiet to boot!
GO NOW!
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