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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3688 |
27th April 2017 Mt. Biking: Bignor to Slindon Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: mainly cloudy Max Speed: Distance Covered: 12 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Thursday 27th April – Bike 12 miles ***** Bignor to Slindon – mainly cloudy Woke to brilliant South Downs sunshine but only 3 degrees so a spell with the diesel heater soon sorted that out as we read enjoying the great views down to the coast:) A few cars arrived and there was a steady stream of dog walkers, horse riders, mountain bikers and serious hikers as we had breakfast and I did my blog for the last couple of days while Mag read her book. By midday the temperature had improved to double figures but it was clouding up. We decided to get the bikes off to explore the South Downs Path again. Mag packed some delicious sandwiches while I sorted out the bikes and after getting a map from a box in the carpark we set off at 12.50 turning left. We soon reached the amazing Stane Street which is the Roman road from the coast to Londinium. It is a long straight embankment passing sheep pasture and fields of vibrant yellow rape. The path continues through an avenue of small trees with lamb twins everywhere including standing in the middle of the path! We then entered Eartham Wood stopping by a sign post with a seat to consult the map as the path branches off six different ways here! Finding the way to Slindon we continue past the most beautiful woodland mostly downhill which didn’t bode well for the return journey! Then we came to a section of up - which Mag walked faster than I could bike! We came across several walkers here, they turned left so we turned right and discovered the best woodland track we have ever been on as the forest floor was thick with huge beds of the deepest blue bluebells absolutely stunning:) We got off the bikes and walked to the edge of the flowers to take in the scene and get some pics. The bluebell path wound its way up and down for a while then sadly the bluebells were gone:( and we were out in pasture again. We then spotted The Folly a must-see feature in our map. Built in 1814 to impress at the behest of the Countess of Newburgh who would take her four-horse drawn wagonette there for tea with her friends (I have been reading the leaflet again as you can tell!!) This made the perfect picnic spot for us. It was a bit of a climb up and The Folly was fenced off due to restoration work but it was still a great spot to stop with great views all around and we could even see the Isle of Wight! It was a little chilly with the sun now completely gone:( Mag had read the information board and then the leaflet so we were bursting with facts as we headed down the hill to Slindon village which is still owned and managed by the National Trust. It boasts a large Manor House now a boarding school which had a deer park here from as early as the 13th Century, sadly no deer now unlike Petworth yesterday. Reaching the village, we passed both the Anglican and Catholic churches, sheep grazing everywhere finishing off at the pretty village pond where we stopped for our chocolate bar. After a chat with a couple of friendly locals we headed into the park with its no cycling sign:( and on to the estate gateway at which point we turned for home. Back at the Manor we found a path which lead to a long straight bridleway taking us to the van. It was along drag uphill past yet more sheep and a field of cows with young:) Knackered again we were out for 3hrs 50 mins covering only about 12 miles but it was mostly bumpy tracks up and down so hopefully tomorrow we will have a more relaxing day, perhaps heading to the coast at Pagham harbour - a place we haven’t been before. The camping classic - Sausage, egg and beans for tea and the three deer from yesterday made an appearance to eat some more of the farmer’s wheat field, another top day – we like it down this way:) Photo Gallery Here |
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