After gathering at The Unicorn we went inside to order our food. Jay and Lindsay then led us up the road past Berrywood Farm towards Heyshott Green where we stopped to pose for a photo. It was a little chilly but the sun tried its hardest to stay with us most of the morning. We encountered our first mud challenge just past Walkers Farm and another as we picked up the Serpent Trail route past the Goldballs Plantation. This took us to the old bridge over the route of the Midhurst to Pulborough railway. The line opened in 1866, was never very busy and closed to passenger traffic in 1955 and to goods traffic in 1966.
The route through Heyshott common proved challenging in parts but we ploughed on, keen to find some suitable logs to rest our legs and have a food and drink break. The logs were not ideal but sufficed for a few minutes. Refreshed, we reached New Road which gave some dry and secure walking which was good, apart from an occasional motorist. It also was a good viewing spot to observe 3 deer on Heyshott Common. They clearly thought if they stood very still, they would be invisible, but some of us could see through their attempted deception. After passing through the hamlet of Hoyle, we crossed our last stream-bed of the day before picking up the New Lipchis Way to guide us back to The Unicorn for an excellent lunch.