Come Walk with Me in Sussex Countryside Part II

Ok... I think you've had a long enough rest since our last walk in the countryside around my village.

Today, I will meet you at the bus shelter, out front of my place. You can't miss it; it's almost opposite the Post Office and it's up on the bank. It's a small, wooden bus shelter with a wood tiled roof. About this time of the year, a neighbour on the other side of the street, will have hung a hanging basked from the front of the roof, full of colour.

Ah... I see you found it, so I'll come out and meet you and today, we'll walk up to Wykehurst Park. I'm sure you'll enjoy this.

Good morning... the sun is shining and there's a light breeze. Everywhere is dry, so we can go the footpath way. We'll head first, up the street, in a northward direction, through the centre of the village. On the way, we pass Paynes Field, which contains basketball nets, a football pitch and a play area for the smaller children. There are cries of joy from the play area, as the children climb and run over the wooden adventure structure, and ride up and down on the seesaw.

Next, we pass the War Memorial, at Threeways. The garden around the back and sides of this cross shaped memorial is full of polyanthus of various colours... a blackbird pecking into the petals for the droplets of water which are stored there in the mornings. Past the Rawson Institute and on to the end of the built up road, until we're treading a dusty track, with bits of stone and twigs scattered upon it. At the end of the track, we can either go across the heath to the Bolney Stage restaurant and pub, or we can carry on northwards, where the track narrows to a country footpath. We'll take the footpath, I think. This passes a field on the left, with horses in it. On the right, we pass John Snow, the ex-Sussex County Cricket player's house. This is set behind hedges so we can't see much of it, or his garden. (I've tried before) lol.

On past an electricity pylon. Yes, we still have them here, as there is a lot of open countryside, which hasn't been dug to house cables. Suddenly, we come out into an open space, and there it stands... a fairytale, gothic type mansion, with large, double, black wrought iron gates, a stone phoenix perching on a pillar either side of the gates at either end of the drive. On the south side of the mansion, a stone pillar open wall, housing a grassed patio outside French windows. There are white, iron tables and chairs on this patio, where the original inhabitants used to take their meals. Wonderful... we walk up to the iron gates and peer through them, and you can just make out the grand, wide, polished wood staircase through the large window to the left of the front door, a big, oak door.

Some might call it spooky, with it's conical roofs, phoenix guards, and huge iron gates, housing a pebble drive. Indeed, it puts you in mind of Count Dracula and many a dream, or should I say nightmare, can be had whilst standing at the gates. Probably for this reason, Hammer House of Horror have used Wykehurst Park as a setting for some of their films. Yes, we've even had film stars in the village. lol.

Ok, we'll follow the approach road to the east, and the top of the village. This is a stony road, about three quarters of a mile long, which crosses a brook via an old stone bridge, to the lodge at the end. The lodge is built with conical roofs, lending a hint to the style of the mansion. We turn right, down what was the old A23, London to Brighton Road, and stop at the Bolney Stage for our lunch, and a glass of wine. This is a Bluebeckers family pub now, and has lost a bit of its charm, but not all. As you will have guessed by the name, it was an old coach house, in days gone.

I'm ready for my lunch before the completion of the homeward walk. There's just one choice... whether to take our lunch in the garden, or inside the restaurant.:-)

I hope you've enjoyed today's walk as much as I, and I will see you again soon, for another walk in the proximity of the village.