This is a picturesque walk from the centre of the pretty village of Capel (just 5 minutes drive North on the A24), which offers easy parking: an ideal spot is the car park of The Crown, an imposing village hostelry, specialising in a good range of locally produced craft beers.

The route crosses farmland, woods and private estates - picturesque all through the year, but muddy in winter so come prepared for heavier treading in wetter months. Being Sussex, it'll be quite a way into Spring before the clay based ground hardens; the banks of bright daffodils and bluebells, still green, but already carpeting local woodlands can be deceiving!

Yellow daffodils herald Spring at The Oaks
Yellow daffodils herald Spring at The Oaks

The Tanhouse Farm Shop and cafe is mid way, and well worth a stop for a warm welcome and fresh, tasty home made refreshments enjoyed in their indoor or outdoor seating areas.

Bean Lake is on the vast and picturesque Newdigate Farm Estate. As well as being a beautifully peaceful but well resourced group of lakes for carp fishermen, with no less than 9 huge, glassy lakes, the estate is also a wonderfully natural setting for wedding celebrations in a sensitively restored barn.

Bean Lake, Newdigate Farm Estate

Bean lake's 6 acre pool is stocked with around 250 Ghost, Common and Mirror Carp; ranging in size from 10lb up to a hefty 45 lb. A maximum of just 10 fishing permits are allowed to fish in this lake at a time; ensuring that the environment is always tranquil and as unspoilt.

Bean Lake, part of the huge Newdigate Estate

A rough shelter has been built in one of the woods along the way. Heath Robinson, but clearly well used, surprisingly it houses a tiny log burner stove... one can imagine what goings on may take place here! As is usual for old oaks, many of the bases of the ancient trunks have enticing hollows; again leading the imagination to conjure up vivid pictures of the creatures who could live inside the openings; Beatrix Potter style...

For the route, which can be accessed via the free app, Komoot, view here and, if wished, receive directions to the start of the walk, and as you progress along the way.

Sticky Sussex mud underfoot, but signs of spring are now bright and loud - crowds of daffodils, with wild garlic waiting in the wings; it's pungent perfume already punching through the woodland air.

Ornamental Pear buds at The Oaks

Interesting fact!

The expression Heath Robinson is so called after the artist and illustrator of the same name.

William Heath Robinson (1872-1944) was famed for his brilliant cartoons of ludicrously intricate and complex contraptions, apparently designed to carry out the most mundane tasks or sometimes no tasks at all 🙂

(Definition from The Express, see here)