Rake, Hill Brow to Black Down
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Rake, Hill Brow to Black Down - 12½ miles (Start point SU791260) Parking in in car park at Clayton Court at SU791260 and at Blackdown in the car park in Tennyson Lane at SU923307. A generally easy walk, mainly on clear sandy tracks, crossing the heathland of Linchmere and Marley Commons and followed by a climb to the top of Black Down, providing a spectacular view over the Sussex Weald. Turn left out of the car park and in 100 yards, turn right on lane to Milland. After about 400 yards, path forks left through gap in fence on slight right hand bend in lane. In about 20 yards take the left of two tracks along the foot of Rake Hanger. Keep ahead at path junction by English Nature information board. After about a mile, path joins track at houses. Continue ahead to road, keeping left on road to climb to B2070 by Flying Bull pub at Rake. Cross B2070 with care and take Brewells Lane opposite (right of 'Flying Bull' pub car park). In 300 yards, bear right (signed 'White Eagle Lodge'). After half a mile, turn right at road junction (SU803287), and after another half mile, turn left at next junction. Cross railway bridge and almost immediately fork right and head NNE, (ignoring another right fork) to pass cottages. In about half a mile, at meeting of four ways, take furthest right hand track (SU812297). Bear right past two cottages and continue through heath and woodland for half a mile. Cross drive of Home Park (by brick pillars) and continue ahead on path forking right after 80 yards. Keep bearing right along edge of wood now heading south to pass under railway bridge. Immediately beyond bridge, take narrow path on left (which may be overgrown in summer) and continue on path, bearing right between fences. On reaching wood, turn right at path T-junction on path which soon veers left, still in woodland. Go through gate. Keep bearing left at path junction to reach gate. Cross drive and follow path ahead. Go through gate and follow drive to B2070 near 'Black Fox' pub Cross road with care and turn left along roadside verge. In about 80 yards, fork right on tarmac lane. In another 100 yards cross road and keep ahead on dirt track (at one time this was the Portsmouth Road). Continue ahead in the same direction, ignoring a signed bridleway to the left, for the next 1½ miles. Ignore all other side turnings and crossing paths until passing the entrance drive to North Lodge Farm on the right. Continue ahead in the same direction for the next 1½ miles, crossing the golf course and ignoring all side turnings and crossing paths, until passing the entrance drive to North Lodge Farm on the right. Cross this road into Highfield Lane opposite (SU847304). (For access to Liphook turn left along road for half a mile). Follow Highfield Lane for just 20 yards, then turn right on clear woodland track. Continue ahead, ignoring path to right and continue ahead on path through woodland, which is a little vague at times, but maintain direction for about half a mile, roughly in line with the ditch, at waymarker post (SU853303) bear left uphill with the bridleway as indicated. At top of rise, join track coming in from left and go ahead (NE). Cross the cattle grid by the gate, to a meeting of four ways, go straight ahead through wood. At next junction, fork left on lesser path and descend slope. At another path junction at foot of slope, turn left and continue ahead for half a mile, looking for a field and a house on left. Here the path soon veers right and pass es between the ponds on to the common. At meeting of five tracks, follow the bridleway up hill. As path climbs gently, soon fork right and follow Border Path/bridleway waymarks over heathland for about half a mile, ignoring side and crossing tracks until the path veers left alongside fence. Continue with fence and gardens of house on right to reach road at Linchmere (SU866314). Turn right and in 300 yards turn left at road junction (signed Haslemere and Camelsdale). After 30 yards fork right on gravel track along bridleway by 'Old School'. Follow this rising (and often muddy) bridleway for over half a mile, ignoring all side tracks, until reaching a tarmac lane. Go ahead and in 100 yards, where tarmac lane bears left, bear slightly right on rough track. Follow this past stables to reach a road at houses. Go ahead with the road for 100 yards, but where it bends left, continue ahead on footpath into woodland. Follow path, crossing another private tarmac drive, to reach public road at SU887311. Turn left for 100 yards, then turn right into car park at Marley Common. Walk through car park, through the gate and ahead on footpath across common. At meeting of five ways continue straight ahead (NE) across National Trust land and through another gate ignoring side tracks descending gradually. Just before path drops more steeply, fork right, and shortly, at next junction, drop down steeply left in hollow way. Soon bear left down steps and through twitten to road. Turn left and descend to cross A286 road (SU895315) to Fernden Lane. (Access point for Camelsdale and Haslemere). Follow Fernden Lane round sharp bend and in 50 yards turn left along track which in 300 yards joins tarmac drive. Continue east along drive and bridleway to reach road. Turn right and follow road/drive round left bend. Pass through right-hand brick gateway and pass Lake House on left, then at end of fence on left, turn left at kissing gate on to path running down to a boardwalk over a boggy area. Turn left again at corner and follow narrow enclosed path out over plank bridge on to drive to 'Valewood House'. Turn right along drive and soon pass the delightful 'Valewood Farm House' on the left. In another 200 yards at a grass triangle turn sharply left uphill on clear track to gate. Pass through the gate and immediately turn right steeply uphill to follow the trodden path through a grass field to a field gate at the top. Turn right and pass through gate and continue on trodden path diagonally across centre of field, with excellent views to SW. At end, bear left through field gate and follow track and ascend through narrow eroded section to Black Down. At gate take bridleway right, avoiding main track, follow bridleway for half mile to a further gate and turn left up the incline to meet the main track. Turn right and continue for 100 yards through the gate. Keep ahead at track/path junction and keep to main track for another half mile as path opens out into wide space and heathland. At the grass triangle turn left to pass old boggy ponds to the left. Ignoring all other paths stay ahead, generally NE, on the sunken track. Watch out for the viewpoint and seat to the right as the path descends. Take a rest and enjoy the delightful view from Black Down east over the Sussex Weald. Return to the path and continue for 70 yards and turn right before the National Trust notice board and obelisk collecting box. The path drops downhill in sunken way through a wicket gate to join road on hairpin bend. The car park is just to the right at SU923307. .