Pulborough's Purlieu: A Pretty Patchwork of Pleasant Places

The landscape northeast of Pulborough isn't majestic like the South Downs (which will make a fine backdrop), but is just as lovely. Rather than downland chalk, we'll be walking on well-drained Wealden sandstone which creates an intricate pattern of heath and coppice-clad hills and provides the honey-coloured stone from which the pretty villages of West Chiltington and Nutbourne (where we'll have a pub lunch) are built. Cosy cottages, suave Georgian houses and ancient churches are two a penny, but if this all sounds too dainty, the surprisingly rugged hills do rise to ninety metres and so make this delightful daywalk just a bit demanding.

The sights:

Pulborough: On the A29 and being heavily developed into a sizeable town north away from the River Arun. Lots of old houses in the area we'll see in stone, brick and tile. St Mary's Church is perpendicular gothic, C14-early C15. Old Place is a barn converted into a house but containing C15 and C16 details and New Place is a C17 stone farmhouse. 

Nyetimber Vineyard: The website reports: 'For over 25 years Nyetimber has had a single aim: to make the finest English sparkling wine, one to rival the very best in the world, including Champagne. A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer of English sparkling wine to exclusively grow the three celebrated grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Nyetimber uses only its own grapes from its own vineyards, each of which was deliberately selected to be south-facing with either sandy or chalk soils similar in composition to those found in Champagne. All Nyetimber vineyards are located in the lee of the South Downs which affords them shelter from the coastal winds. Prior to harvest, the grapes are tasted to ensure the best flavour development before picking. Every single grape is picked by hand at the optimal time, a decision that is made on a parcel by parcel basis.'

West Chiltington: Two parts, both pleasant, a close-built, town-like village on a grid-iron plan. Fine views to the Downs to the south. St Mary's Church is unspoiled C13 with a C17 shingled belfry and spire. Massive C12 arcade. Extensive wall paintings from the early C13, vividly coloured, depicting the beginning and end of the life of Christ as well as apostles and saints. Friar's House is C17, the smock windmill, octagonal and weatherboarded is c1800. Gay Street is a hamlet of scattered stone cottages; unsurprisingly, its street sign goes missing quite frequently.

Nutbourne: A lane of yet more mellow bargate stone houses, pretty and informal. The Rising Sun pub is where we'll have lunch.

The route (please click the link in red to be taken to the Ordnance Survey site to see it):

Heading north from the railway station along an alleyway we'll reach Old Place, then heading further north we'll cross the Combelands horse racing gallops and reach Codmore Lane (if the fields are too wet we'll go via Combelands Lane and Hill Farm Lane). Heading east we'll cross the A29 and venture further east on footpaths and bridleways over Broomershill Lane and continuing until we reach Nutbourne Lane at Borough Farm. Heading south north along this Lane we'll reach Gay Street Lane and then head southeast along Gay Street. Then, veering south we'll follow footpaths to West Chiltington, walk around the village and then head west. Stream Lane will take us past Gay Street Lane and up Nutbourne Road north to Nutbourne and the pub for lunch. A bridleway then heading west will take us all the way back to Pulborough which necessitates a second crossing of the A29 before we go along Church Road back to the alleyway back to the station. 

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is suitable for them, except that there will be a number of stiles to cross (you may have to lift your muddy beast over them) and lanes to walk along, plus some fields will have livestock which may necessitate them going on a lead. Any dog off the lead must be under control.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

(Picture credits: Hilltop track descending dry valley to Brook House by Dave Spicer; Houses at Broomershill by Dave Spicer; Old Place by Simon Carey; Training Gallops near Coombelands by Simon Carey; House and paddock by Dave Spicer; House at the junction of Mill Road and Stream Lane by Shazz; West Chiltington Church by Colin Smith; West Chiltington: St. Mary's Church: Wall paintings 1250-1275 by Michael Garlick; Hayling Pond Cottage, Church Street by Simon Carey; West Chiltington by Colin Smith; Path to the windmill by Shazz; Stream alongside Stream Lane by Dave Spicer; Ebbsworth, Nutbourne by Simon Carey; All photos are copyrighted but are above credited to their copyright holders and are licensed for further reuse under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).)