Decided to have a ramble late yesterday afternoon/early evening as the weather was significantly better than expected [by the Met office]. So, as I have new boots that I'm still breaking in and have only done short 5-8 mile walks [about 5 so far] in them whilst they adjust to my feet, I thought it was time for a longer walk to really test them out.

Starting from north Horsham I walked part way up Old Holbrook and took the first footpath on the right; leading towards Rusper Road, which I crossed and then proceeded up Bush Lane and on to the road at the end as if heading towards Faygate. Lots of birds about including Wagtails, Robins, Chaffinches, Sparrows, Magpies, Pigeons and Seagulls too. As several footpaths round here hadn't yet been mapped I took the second footpath on the right which followed the field boundary and the rail-track before crossing the line and used the footpath that leads up to the A264 [near the Cherry Tree pub].

After crossing the A264 I headed up Tower Hill towards Colgate [no suitable footpaths were available]; passed the Scout Camp on the way up as well as the water tower before finally heading downhill towards the Green Dragon pub in Colgate.

I then crossed the road and took the private road/footpath which skirts the pub's carpark. Following this until it lead to the footpath I was also planning to map. This heads downhill towards some ponds [where I spooked some Mallards] and some very nice woodland before heading up hill towards Grouse Road. A large female red deer was seen bounding across the open heathland just before I turned down the footpath to head towards St. Leonards Forest.

I could hear several Cuckoos as well as the odd Green Woodpecker and I made my way towards the forest; passing a herd of young inquisitive and skittish bullocks along the way. I reached the northern outskirts of the forest and then started uphill onto the High Weald Landscape Trail which cuts through the forest from North to South; ending up in the Lillybeds before climbing uphill out of the forest towards Horsham [via Hampers Lane]. Along here, as well as large numbers of rabbits, I spotted another red deer; this one was a young buck with small antlers and although I passed within 10 feet of him, he didn't bolt. More Green Woodpeckers were seen as I headed down Hampers Lane [almost to the end] before taking the footpath on the right leading towards Leechpool Woods, by now twilight was upon us and the blackbirds and robins were in full song; glorious!

With this heavenly chorus I climbed up out of Leechpool Woods and made my way home for a well deserved rest.

Oh, the walk was just over 10 miles; and I think my boots won, as my feet were rather tender. More breaking in required I think.