3 men on a walk 2015: Cowden

Cowden and around Dry Hill Fort

For once we had a consistent weather forecast and it was for a dry and sunny day. This was not the walk we had planned but finding out late on Sunday that the only pub on our planned 15 mile walk was closed on Mondays meant a quick re-think and we already had mapped out this walk from Cowden, so that's where we headed.

Cowden is a lovely little village nestled in the west-weald about halfway between the North and South Downs. Our trail took us initially along the Sussex Border Path NW and passing through a mix of forest and open countryside heading towards "Dry Hill" which is an Iron Age defended settlement dating back to around 200 BC. It was still possible to see the defensive ditches surrounding the fort in places and the commanding view across to the North and South downs made this hill an ideal defence position. Unfortunately in the intervening years trees have grown up over large parts of the hill and subsequent farming has now destroyed some of the ditches. Still it was an interesting place to walk around.

From Dry Hill we turned west again towards the village of Dormansland and then looped back to the north side of Dry Hill again before taking a slightly more northerly route back to the car via Crippenden Manor and Leighton Manor.

It was nice to see the Primroses were well out and we passed many a clump in the banks and hedgerows. The bluebell leaves are now about 6 inches high, no sign of any flowers yet but if we get a warm spell they should be out in 2 - 3 weeks. We spotted a common Buzzard out looking for its lunch but nothing else of note.

Back in Cowden we were delighted to find the local pub - The Fountain - was open and we enjoyed a very nice lunch there.