Richard Williamson Country Walk...Furnace Pond October 21

Turning right off Midhurst-Petersfield road A272 on to Woolbeding road, continue north to Elmers Marsh where turn right towards Fernhurst (or take A286 to Fernhurst and turn left). This walk of 4kms (2.5 miles) starts at SU870286 where space for limited and careful parking (track may be used by large forestry vehicles) or park further along this narrow road at SU875288 near cottages just before Lower Lodge Farm and walk back.

Walk south on wide track (blue arrow) through open field (you may hear ghostly owl-like hoots from Hollycombe Steam Engines!) to mixed woodland under power cable and into plantation of very tall Norway spruce; ditches either side with wayside flowers supporting insects (speckled wood butterflies on my visit). Also note various autumn fungi throughout walk.

At blue arrow turn right onto smaller track, where deep gully to right, emerging into large open glade, new planted with oaks. Flowering plants notably include devil’s bit scabious and golden rod. At deer-shooting tower, blue arrow takes you left. Note fine mature trees left along edge of Minepit Copse. Grassy track, same flowering plants, rushes in ditch, numerous grasshoppers evading your giant tread. Buzzards overhead and sparrowhawk. Note dramatic outlines of tall firs of Hartley Green Copse on right.

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Continue through young spruce, then older plantation of mixed spruce and birch. At main forestry ride where work glade (BR post nearly fallen) kink ten yards right to cross over and continue south, through mixed woodland and very tall oaks and ash with hazel understorey, half-dozen splendid firs, into open field, where three large oaks (middle one dead) dominate left view while immediately on right ancient gnarled oak now an ‘ivy tree’. Here must live tree spirits!

Continue along blackberry-edged hedge to Upper North Park Farm going under trees (friendly chickens, horses beyond) past stone trough, pond on right, to new Lipchis Way sign, turning left on to tarmac track, passing Ingleby House on left, down into sweetly chabbling stream valley.

Keep on metalled track passing gateway on right where Lipchis Way post, continuing on track to next corner, turning left (north) at short yellow FP post into pastured meadow: continue down fine line of mature oaks with blackthorn understorey. View ahead of Hollycombe Hill across valley. At bottom of meadow through metal gate, continue ahead, tall aromatic spruce on left, pass deer hide and declivity (possibly ancient iron-ore pit?)

At corner, note 1773 Boundary Stone. Keep straight ahead to Furnace Pond, an important iron industry archaeological site of 17th and 18th centuries where local ore, charcoal and water power used to make case iron objects, cannon etc. Path crosses dam, note sluice gates. Beyond pond turn left (blue BR post); at next corner where track bears right, go straight ahead into long narrow meadow (no signpost), proceeding along hedge, under power lines; where opens out turn left passing between two large oaks, at blue FP arrow turn right up track through Lower Lodge Farm.

Turn left on to road to where industrious Morris awaits.