Druce's Farm

1.5 hours

Walk Number 6

Map 4 3 miles

Outline: Village Hall, Playing Field, Hollis Way, footpaths to Blind Lane, Pole's Hole Farms (North and South), up to Druce's Farm, across fields to Bradley Road, more fields to Blind Lane and then back to Village Hall.

Commentary: This is a reasonably easy walk to follow because on the sweeping return from Druce's Farm to Southwick, the Bradley Road is easily visible. Very muddy in winter, making Wellingtons or waterproof boots essential. You are certain to see some of our local wildlife and some pleasant views.

1. Starting at the Village Hall, cross the Playing Field to Hollis
Way, into the cul-de-sac facing the Playing Field entrance
and on through to Blind Lane.

2. Climb the stile and walk diagonally to the right, across the
field, to the gate leading into Wesley Lane near Pole's Hole
Farm North i.e. Paul's Hall.

3. Turn left and follow the lane just past Pole's Hole Farm.
The path is sign-posted, to your right. The gate beside the
farmhouse has a broken down stile to the left. After
entering the field, immediately turn left and follow the line of
the hedge. Enter the next field through the gate. There are
a number of fox dens in the hedge and in the summer they
tend to sun bathe on the other side of the hedge with their
cubs. Surprisingly you may also see rabbits, hares and
deer in the fields around here.

4. This gate usually opens but is covered in barbed wire.
Enter the next field through the gate and follow the path
that crosses the top of the field. Keep the hedge on your
left and you will reach a gap in the far corner of the field.
Carefully cross the land fill site to the bridge near the
bottom right hand corner.

5. Cross the bridge over the brook and with the hedge on your
right walk uphill towards Druce's Farm, which is hard going
when muddy.

6. At the top of the first field you will reach a pair of stiles that
take you into the field opposite Druce's Farm. Before you
climb the stile and cross the Brokerswood Road look back
in the direction you have come. You can see far beyond
Southwick to Bradford on Avon and Westwood.

7. For a short walk back to Southwick turn left at the pair of
stiles and walk to the gate/gap in the hedge leading onto
the main road. Turn left and walk down the hill to Pole's
Hole Farm South. Just past the farm go through the
gateway on your left and the next two fields, to return to
Pole's Hole Farm North and Southwick. Or for the longer
walk ignore this paragraph and continue with paragraph 8.

8. Cross the pair of stiles, the field and the road and enter the
field to the left of Druce's Farm via a gate. Then cross this
field with the hedge on your right until you come to the next
stile. Turn left and follow the hedge on your left to a two
bar fence/stile. Continue following the line of the hedge on
your left. You will be travelling in the direction of Scotland
and Ireland!

9. When you reach a large gap in the hedge on your left
cross diagonally in the direction of Southwick, to a stile on
the far side of the field. Climb over the stile into the next
field, and onwards to the row of houses in Bradley Road.
You will also pass a stile on your right leading to Scotland
and Ireland which you could also use to reach Bradley
Road.

10. Follow Bradley Road back to Southwick OR alternatively
once you reach the sharp corner with the junction of the
road to Brokerswood use the following stiles and fields
route back to Blind Lane and the Village Hall.

11. Follow the path diagonally across the field to a stile by a
gateway. Cross a bridge into the next field on your left.
Now cross this field to another small bridge across the
brook and follow the path back to the stile into Blind Lane
and return back to the Village Hall.