Southwater & Madgelande Wood 9m circular walk

This ramble has a 150m stretch over the very busy A24, which isn’t fun. So care needed, and definitely not recommended if accompanied by a dog, or children. But before reaching the A24, the route is lovely. And after the crossing, well worth it. Picking up a decent pace through what seems in places like other-worldly, long forgotten woodlands will soon account for a fast heartbeat, rather than fear from dodging oncoming vehicles – the crossing will soon be forgotten!

The small hamlet of Copsale (3.5 miles from Horsham) is an alternative starting point for this walk – park for free, just opposite the former pub, and cross over to join the Downs Link.

The Bax Castle pub is dog, family and cyclist friendly. A traditional pub, popular with locals & currently specialising in Pizza, with a thriving take away service set up for the C-19 lockdown period.

In the spring, you will enjoy bluebells and the heady aroma of wild garlic – late Autumn, the offering will be sloes – with some bushes that bear the biggest sloes I’ve ever seen; ideal for steeping. Perfect fortification for when winter nights are at their coldest, and Sloe Gin is the perfect bedtime tonic!

Some of the woodlands have an air of the surreal; untouched – particularly in nature’s quieter seasons.

Beautiful fallen branches. Their bark still hanging eerily crisply as the softening wood quietly decomposes. Ancient, stiff sheets on an unmade bed. Abandoned long ago, now inhabited by minute bugs and beetles, successfully combining forces to break down that strong frame – once far more formidable than their own tiny forms.

Towering verdance now organic matter, gently returning to the ground – the beautiful cycle of life.

Find the route here. Enjoy!