Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Charlton walk on 4th December 2024

Mark and Jo led the 4.5 mile walk above Charlton starting at the Fox Goes Free liquid dispersal centre.  The prewarning of possible mud ensured we were suitably kitted out in a variety of wellies, boots and gaiters.  A short walk west through the village to the imaginatively named North Lane then took us north on the West Sussex Literary Trail gently rising until we left the Lane taking a footpath up into Charlton Forest.  It was muddy in places with many puddles that we were generally able to skirt our way around, although the forestry vehicles had churned up the tracks in their recent felling operations.  The coffee break was a spread out affair in an opening where logs had been stacked on the New Lipchis Way.  Crossing a field led us to Levin Down where the wind had cleared the skies to the south to give us panoramic views.  The single file descent off Levin Down was steep and slippery where the chalk surface emerged from the soil.  We all made it back down to Charlton Road and back to the Fox Goes Free for an excellent lunch.

Strolling up North Lane

Skirting puddles

We’re going to turn off here

Into Charlton Forest

Crossroads at a clearing in the forest

Enjoying the wide tracks in the forest

Coffee break

Panorama to the south

Livestock on Levin Down

The open Levin Down

Starting the descent on the Down

View to the south west

We know it is almost Christmas, but this is just too generous

Our lunch venue

The route of our walk

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