Slindon and Danes Wood HeartSmart Walk

The HeartSmart Booklet said: Led by Bruce and our back marker was Nick
4 miles. Approx 1 hour 45 minutes. Two or three stiles.  Meet: Slindon - in lay-by outside The Spur Pub

Ample parking and a wonderful sunny day. This was going to be a forest walk with the possibility of beautiful autumnal views within the forest. With great enthusiasm we headed South and headed off along Shellbridge road. Until we came to a bridleway that was directing us back towards our start point. This is all part of the South Downs National Park.

Entering into Danes Wood we followed the track slightly inclining up towards West Stubbs Copse, which we skirted and down alongside Rouge Copse where we paused to see the area that is reputed to be used for off road trialling. Looking at the ruts in the clay it looked more suitable for monster trucks or tractors.  Having reached this point we retraced our route to a convenient track and headed North Westward up a sharp inclination. This took us to the edge of Rewell Wood Once at a convenient point we seemed to go off road into a bramble strewn area that was a track but not part of the footpath set-up in the direction of Madehurst Wood. Once we emerged onto a bridleway we turned southerly direction and to everyone's surprise back to the sharp incline we had recently started this section from.  This area was probably the most difficult for some as it was solid and wet chalk, thankfully no-one became a cropper.


At this point we headed due west towards in the direction of our start point. however we diverted for an excursion down into a glade and shaded area. Retracing our steps once again re followed the track we had been on and made our way to the Scouts Adventure centre, behind the Spur.   Crossing the bridleway once again we took the footpath up a steepish embankment and crossing four wooden stiles in quick concession we were back on the A29.

Not quite a circular route covering 3.6miles in one and a half hours, not bad. I would have preferred a more circular route with no backtracking and sticking to footpaths and bridleways. Would I do it again, I guess so but not fully sure.