There were5 at the start joined by two later making7 in all. We saw three juvenile Tamworth pigs four or five dear some ponies lots of longhorn cattle with young and two storks feeding in a field. All 7 had lunch in Dial Post the pub was busy but well managed and food worth waiting for. Long man ale and a sussex smokie (haddock in a cheese sauce) were very good. It was getting rather late so four of us ended there. Three continued hoping to see the stock nests in the afternoon

After lunch three carried on the main route and were not disappointed...a fully adult Tamworth pig crossed the path just in front of us and seemed completely oblivious to our presence while it routed around in the leaves and tree debris at the side of the path. At the watering hole we saw several deer and heard some rather interesting noises from the nearby woods... We continued to see more and more deer around many corners, including one young stag with small antlers -- but no rutting activity. We arrived in Billingshurst just before 7pm with time for a quick stop in the Tescos for supplies for the slightly delayed 7:14pm. The weather was cloudy with light showers in the evening

Hi All

Just checking who's interested in this walk?

And would like to confirm start and approx end time if doing the full walk?

Thinking of getting an advanced ticket with rail card

Thank you

Mishlin

Hi, I am planning to do the walk. The train to take is specified in the post, as is its arrival time at the start of the walk. Look forward to seeing you there!

Train abruptly canceled at Gatwick -- some are making there way to Horsham to discuss options.

After a complicated logistical start with the designated train calling it quits at Gatwick airport, a group of 3 eventually met at Horsham and opted to take a taxi the short distance to Christ's Hospital (actually a pub about 2 kms into the walk route) where we met a fourth walker who had driven. By the time we set off, the overnight rain at stopped and it was cloudy soon becoming mostly sunny . Not far along the route, we bumped into a fifth walker who had started from a delayed earlier train and near Knepp Castle we met with two others who had parked near the pub and walked the route in reverse until finding us and returned with us to the pub where 6 enjoyed a delicious and leisurely lunch...one sandwich eater set off before the three of us completing the walk set off ()while 3 opted to ended their walking after lunch. During our time in Knepp, we saw a good number of long-horn cattle which popped up in various parts of the estate and were a joy to see doing their thing....a few pigs were also spotted some before lunch and some after lunch.....We spent time at the peaceful lookout where we heard male fallow deer making their rutting noises -- but they did not appear in the clearing to see unfortunately.....We also stopped for a short break in the garden of the Quaker House passed along the way...and eventually arrived in Billingshurst just after 7pm with time to grab some supplies for the 7:11pm train back to London which ran very smoothly...I understand that 2 others were on the train that stopped at Gatwick in the morning and caught the next train to Christ Hospital from Gatwick, so presumably did the walk an hour later...we did not see them en route...but, hopefully, they had a good time....so I believe there were 9 in total doing some or all of the walk.

Just 4 walkers got off the train at Christs Hospital, including one newcomer who, disappointed not to meet an expected meet-up group of 15 which hadn't materialised, not wishing to do the whole 27km and daunted by the prospect of finding the bus stop by themselves, turned back after a couple of km, leaving the other 3 to press on to the Knepp estate and encounter free ranging cattle and pigs, a lone foal and numerous butterfly hunters, but no deer or storks (too many humans about perhaps).* We stopped at at the very nice and spacious Crown Inn, where one of us had a delicious looking meal and the others a huge quantity of cashews and two excellent beers, before the long march to Billingshurst in sunny weather in AM overcast and muggy later . An excellent day out.

* I hope you like this Proustesque 86-word sentence; I think it might be the longest I've ever written.

Two came on a later train, unconsciencely avoiding the meet-up group which probably stayed happily in the wrong part of the the train ending up in Chichester or Southampton chatting away, and also enjoyed this walk tremendously through the rewilding project around Knepp Castle and surrounding estate. Met some very inquisitive horses who tried to eat our picnic lunches out of our rucksacks. Disappointed that they were gone, they then pressed the point about rewilding and being against single plastic use, by trampling on a plastic bottle (not mine luckily). Point taken by my otherwise climate conscious and working for a large nature conservancy charity. Charity begins...

We too chatted way too much, had some nice breaks admiring & enjoying the glorious views and perfect sunny/cloudy walking weather. We thought about Billingshurst but seriously or for long. An unexpected little cafe cum pottery painting hut just before the busstop made an excellent last stop before nipping on a 5pm-ish (bang on time) bus to Horsham. Highly recommended.

6

I want to see the Knepp Wildlands but not walk 16 miles. There is an option for a 10.5 mile walk with a bus to Horsham and an earlier lunch stop. Is anyone interested?

If only 10 miles, surely one can start an hour later - are you up for this? That is the swing factor for me to join you.

would like 10 mile walk but what time would you start? 8.46 or 9.46am?

I take your point about the later start, but if I go on the 8.46 at least I get to socialise with my friends in the rest of the group on the way down. If I take the latter train I am relying on two anonymous people deciding to turn out, who may not...

Definitely up for the 10.5 mile option with earlier 08.46 train

and see Knepp Wildlands don't mind an earlier lunch stop

Hi, I went on the previous Sunday outing (albeit it was the Sunday before the August bank holiday) and don't remember the full walk finishing too late, even though we dallied to observe magnificent beasts gathering by a watering hole - and I don't mean the pub at the end. Anyway it's highly recommended.

To walker, are you planning to walk from Christ Hospital to George and Dragon at Dragons Green for lunch (5.2miles), then to Knepp Castle? Where do you plan to take the bus to Horsham? In addition, if you take early train, you will arrive at the pub prob at 12pm or even before. A later train seems a better option. The Crown Inn would make the morning too long 8.9 miles in a 10.5 miles walk

Lunch at the pub at Dragon's Green, yes. Arriving there about midday, yes, which does not seem too tragic. Easier to get a table, faster to get served. A 2.5 mile an hour pace suites me fine. The bus location is described in the walk directions - I intended to do the slightly longer route via the Dial Post pub. The bus is hourly, more or less on the hour at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm - also 6.30pm and 7.30pm - and it goes to Horsham.

I would like to get the 8.46 train in the morning for the reason already explained. If others want to get the 9.46, don't let me stop you. I was just pointing out what I am going to do and inviting anyone who wants to join me.

A few of us will be taking 9:46am train from Victoria and doing a short cut about 10 miles with lunch at Dragons Green (~5miles into the walk) and catching bus # 23 at Perryland Farm near the Crown In at Dial Post (4:02pm, 5:02pm, 5:59pm)to Horsham. Buy a day return to Christ's Hospital. All welcome to join us.

Just to say, I may not be on the walk after all. I have been in the gluey phase of a cold since Tuesday and it shows no signs of letting go. I hope those who take the 9.46 train have a good day.

Anyone who went on this walk (or regrets missing it) should listen to Radio 4's Today program, which had a long report about Knepp and re-wilding this morning (0810-0826). Stargazer chose an opportune day to post this walk!

7 walkers took the later train. warm with sunny intervals . Good pace in the morning, except in one field where we were greeted by a large hurd of cattles in our path, then they started to run back and forth, thank to our cattle protection officer, we managed to across the field in one piece. Arrived at George & Dragon at 12:30, only to learn the pub was fully booked by the classic car club, absolutely no food will be served before 2pm. No despire, off we went to Countryman, near Shipley (only about 1 mile or so on the country lane - but off the main path). We lost 1 walker By then. Nice lunch at Countryman with huge portion for starters. Another short cut on the country lane after lunch to join the official route. Soon we entered Knepp Safari park, the ‘highlight’ of the walk, but safari appeared to have gone vegan. We only saw two deers in the distance, swans and ducks on the lakes, but no farm animals....After a quick visit to Knepp Castle, we decided to call it a day, caught 4:06 bus to Horsham. Drinks at the atmospheric Black Jug - 5 mins from the train station, then caught 17:30 train back to London.

Four of us visited Mr Tiger who has been well looked after by the hospital staff and more importantly has kept his humour and sharp wit. We hope he will be back to full health soon.

7 early risers emerged on the platform at Christ's Hospital with 1 more who missed the train catching us as we were leaving the lunch pub (using some creative means), making for 8 early risers, together with I understand to be 8 on the later train, making for a total of 16 on this very interesting Sussex Safari under warm savannah skies . One more doing a separate circuit (not included on the official count) also joined the early risers at the lunch pub. I believe the early risers managed to tick off the "Big Four of Sussex" -- Tamworth Pigs, Long Horn Cattle, Ponies and Fallow Deer. This is a very interesting walk which I would recommend again -- even outside the rewilding project, there is a sense of wildness with the lovely South Downs always in the distance. Also, seeing the pigs and cattle wandering about doing their own thing is really very special...Lacking a mid-afternoon refreshment stop, 4 of the long walkers enjoyed a brief break on a bench at the Quaker House before the final push into Billingshurst for refreshing bevies before catching the 18:28...Would be interesting to hear how the late starters enjoyed their day....

I see our reports crossed last night....so, the correct figure is 15 for the combined long and short versions of the walk. Sorry to hear the late starters did not see many critters...maybe all the short cuts bypassed them.....

I know the pub and it can get busy with diners so will reserve a table. If anyone else intends to dine then add a post and I'll book an appropriate sized table

The shorter version appears to be longer than the original. Can you clarify.

jfk

Hi, very much looking forward to my first walk with the group. Linn

The shorter route of 10.8 miles includes 0.7 miles from the bus stop to joining the route and the 10.1 miles remaining (16.9-6.8), although does not include the recommended short diversion to view the new castle itself

Thanks jfk - and Andy.

Ive tweaked the wording slightly to make it clearer

Nine of us on the train, another two materialised for a late lunch at the Dial Post (and expressing some derision for the time we'd taken to get there) making 11 in all for a beautiful walk, full of interest especially in the rewilding area. The viewing platform over a pond populated by fallow deer, cattle, a heron and wold pigs had a Jungle Book feel in the beautiful sunshine . I didn't partake of the pub lunch but everyone must have been served efficiently considering we didn't get there till 2. A couple of people managed to down a quick beer at the Railway Inn, Billingshurst before the 1833 train. Many thanks to Andy for putting this walk together, a great day out.

That's wild pigs obviously, not a new species!