RST Route 1 Blue Idol To Cheviots Farm

1.9 miles about half within Thakeham Parish, with parts in Shipley and West Chiltington. Initially the route is on a metalled farm lane and bridleway but from Sproutes onwards a footpath is followed. The whole route is on flat ground and the first half as far as Sproutes is suited to riding and pedestrians, but note that near Sproutes Farm muddy conditions are found in wet weather. Dogs must be kept on leads through farm land and on private roads.

One mile NW of Coolham crossroads on the A272 is the minor side road, Oldhouse Lane, leading to the south and the Blue Idol. It is this historic Quaker Meeting House dating from the early 1600s that is responsible for the strange lozenged shaped northern extension to Thakeham Parish connected to the south by a strip as thin as 15 yards wide. The building continues in use now having been identified by William Penn, then a resident of Thakeham living close to Warminghurst Church, as suitable for a Quaker Meeting House in about 1680. The name is probably derived from the blue colour that out of use farm buildings were painted in order to avoid payment of land taxes, and “idle” (modified to “Idol”) meaning unused. It was disused as a meeting house from 1793 until 1869. In the garden is a medieval timber framed barn (hovel) older than the meeting house.

Except on Sunday mornings, or when an event is being held (see www.blueidol.org and check the Visit tab), it should be possible to park at the Blue Idol. The garden is open for visitors and the meeting house and hovel barn are normally open on Fridays from March to November.

Take the metalled Oldhouse Lane, a private road and bridleway, heading due south past the Blue Idol. Just before Oldhouse Farm on the right a footpath leads off to the west (Route 2) and a short detour along it should reveal some alpacas on the left. Returning to Oldhouse Lane the path, recently repaired by WSCC with loose material, continues due south and connects with Harbolets Road. Four hundred yards past the farm along a tree covered path with good bluebell coverage in season, and after some small ponds, take the bridleway to the left. After a hundred yards and through a gate the path opens beside a pasture field. Continue to the SE and pass through an extensive complex of farm buildings (some housing cattle) to arrive at the end of Sproutes Lane.

Turn right and take the footpath leading due south. This starts at a stile in need of repair. After 200 yards the path crosses the hedge line on the left with another stile in poor condition. The route is now along the western edge of three fields in a straight line with another broken stile to be crossed, and in the third field no hint of where the path lies beneath strong pasture growth. Finding the double stile at the end of the footpath on the B2139 can also raise a problem. Heading south along the western side of the third field a farm gate and water trough are in position about one hundred yards before the end of the field. At this point cross the field to the left towards the B2139 and the stiles can be seen amongst the tree cover.

From the northern end of Sproutes Lane a circular route back to the start point can be followed. Turn left (north) up the private road and bridleway leading to Goringlee, a farm house and buildings. Follow the road with left and right bends through the farm and then on crossing a bridge with a pond to the right take the footpath to the left. The path is fenced off forming a corridor on higher ground running alongside a stream below on the left. A small copse is reached and after a stile another field is crossed diagonally with a further stile leading to a footbridge over a ditch giving access to Oldhouse Lane. Turn right and the Blue Idol is five hundred yards to the north.

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