Late on Saturday aftrenoon I decided to tackle a new series of geocaches [see http://www.geocaching.com if you want to know what this is] that had been placed around Nuthurst. I also noticed that many of these were just off footpaths and bridleways I hadn't yet mapped in the area, so off I went.

I got dropped off at Mannings Heath by my brother-in-law and then wandered up through the woods towards Sedgewick Castle (remains of) and proceeded to find those of the series hidden on this side of Nuthusrt before tackling those on the other side.

There were six caches on this side of Nuthurst and the remaing four were the other side; not including the bonus cache for which you had to collect a clue from each of the others to work out where it was actually hidden; great fun.

Geocaching for me is just an excuse for a really good walk/hike and to have some fun along the way. It was a glorious sunny day; not too warm and the views were spectacular as this is a slightly hilly area, so from some parts, you can see for a fair few miles; lots of woods, meadows and other fields and the picturesque church at Nuthurst too. The church is a very popular place for weddings as it is very old; the churchyard and surrounding areas are also very well groomed.

As usual I spotted lots of wildlife about on this mild sunny day; rabits galore, loads of different birds too, including green woodpeckers, magpies, crows, pigeons and many robins, wrens and blackbirds. Insect life was also in abundance, especially the butterfiles; Speckled Woods, Red Admirals and Peacocks being the most frequently spotted varieties. Flora were represented by the dozens of wild orchids along the route, mainly early purple and pyramid varieties, as well as loads of foxgloves nodding their pink/purple bell flower spikes in the very welcome light breeze.

Once the series was completed, all ten, and yes I did find the bonus cache, it was back home to Horsham for a well deserved rest and some tea, via Mannings Heath again; 16 miles in all! A lovely circular walk.

All the footpaths/bridleways I used have now been mapped and added to the site.