“THE MILLER’S TRAIL – A WALK BACK THROUGH TIME” – THE SATURDAY RAMBLETTE – JUNE 13 2020

“I mount the steps and ring the bell, turning
Wearily, as one would turn to nod good-bye to the Miller,
If the street were time and he at the end of the street”

[RWS adaptation to T.S. Eliot’s ‘Prufrock and Other Observations’]

“Sadly, we cannot yet walk together as a group. ‘Social distancing’ rules – and common-sense – to be followed as before”

Richard W. Symonds – The Ifield Society – 16/05/2020

There are a limited number of things you can now do that you could not do before:

spend time outdoors – for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing
meet one other person from a different household outdoors – following social distancing guidelines
exercise outdoors as often as you wish – following social distancing guidelines
use outdoor sports courts or facilities, such as a tennis or basketball court, or golf course – with members of your household, or one other person while staying 2 metres apart
go to a garden centre

At all times, you should continue to observe social distancing guidelines when you are outside your home, including ensuring you are 2 metres away from anyone outside your household. As with before, you cannot:

visit friends and family in their homes
exercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre, or go swimming in a public pool
use an outdoor gym or playground
visit a private or ticketed attraction
gather in a group of more than two (excluding members of your own household), except for a few specific exceptions set out in law (for work, funerals, house moves, supporting the vulnerable, in emergencies and to fulfil legal obligations)

THE ROUTE

“REMEMBRANCE RAMBLETTE: GERAINT THOMAS [1950-2019]

Start from outside The Plough in Ifield Village.

Head towards St Margaret’s Church.

Go through the church gate [Lychgate] and turn immediately left at the War Memorial, following the wall, with the church to the right, and head towards the gate.

Go through the gate. Pass the ‘Private’ sign [ignore that], and bear right along the wider green path.

Walk across ‘obsolete’ bridge, or pass it on your right and make towards Ifield Brook…

“Boris stalking baby rabbits yesterday” [16/05/2020] – Photo and text kindly provided by his owner Jackie

Reach the Ifield Brook Bridge., but do not cross over the Bridge. Turn left into Ifield Brook Meadows crossing a small wooden bridge.

Then turn immediately left along the grass path to a ‘cross-roads’ between two trees.

Turn left at the ‘cross-roads’ and keep straight on with the ‘white’ house ahead.

At the fence, turn right and go through the gate.

Keep straight, passing another ‘Private’ sign [ignore that].

Up ahead, a wooded area will be seen. Keep an eye out for the Dragon’s eye!

The Friendly Dragon turns into wood!

Friendly Dragon’s Home

Go under the tree ‘canopy’ and immediately bear right, following the Dragon’s Trail – a narrow trail ‘hugging’ the hedges on the right.

RWS Photography

Bear to the right, picking up a wider path through a gap.

Keep straight on across small ‘cross-roads’ and pass the ‘Dragon’s Tree’ [with a bird-box on the side] on the left.

Keep straight on small path, across another small ‘cross-roads’, then make towards the gap in the trees

Bear slightly right into the wooded ‘canopy’ area, then take the gravel path to the left.

Walk straight on towards the fence – where once stood an old bridge which crossed the Brook [and which was destroyed a few years ago].

Bear left at the fence away from the brook, then take the path to the right, and go over another wooden bridge [with a small, circular ‘Greenway’ badge attached].

After crossing bridge, bear to the left along the path and walk along the riverbank for some distance (this is not Ifield Brook – as shown – but the Miller’s Mace – which served Ifield Mill at the Millpond further south)(Ifield Brook is on the right – hidden by banks).