Richard Tyson follows a route near the coast
Two little known churches and a ruined chapel as well as a nearby windmill under restoration are passed on this walk. The paths are easy and in good order through quiet and slightly undulating countryside.
From the car park go down the slope away from the road. Cross a footbridge and fork a little left. Continue straight on through the common up the path between gorse bushes. In three minutes exit into a field and keep straight on. Soon a footpath crosses our route before reaching a bridleway coming in from the left. Keep ahead again and soon Friston village will be ahead with its church and old windmill; ignore a field path to the left and reach Church Lane. Still keep straight and pass Friston St Mary’s Church on the left. There are several paths but ours is the green lane to the right at the bottom of the dip.
Pass farm buildings as the attractive lane becomes more rural and continues beside a hedge. Swing left then sharp right as you pass under the grid lines. At the corner of a wood take the farm track across the field towards Moor Farm. Pass by the swimming pool and immediately turn sharp right (waymark on the gate) then pass a pond and go straight over the field ahead to a signpost, which is just to the left of a big gap in the hedge. Turn left along the path, which soon passes smart Cloutings Farm then reaches the B1119.
Cross with care (poor visibility) to the path opposite. Paddocks for Arab horses are passed on the left then, entering a wood, look for a signpost after 200 yards. Turn right alongside a hedge to reach Knodishall Green. Turn right along the road but in 80 yards turn left down a farm road. Ignore a path to the left and look for the ruins of a church on private land just behind the house on the left. Your footpath continues straight ahead over fields; the next waymark is at the left end of a high hedge. Next go over arable land to reach a wood on the right. When fields are in front look carefully for a signpost ahead on the B1119 verge at GR 421627. That signpost is opposite another path. Cross over and use the attractive track towards a wood. The route (recently revised with the co-operation of Ramblers Association) is marked to the left and then over a footbridge. Bear right going through a metal gate into a paddock; in a few yards go left to reach the tarred lane almost opposite secluded Knodishall Church.
Turn right up the road and at the junction enter the bridleway path opposite. Continue straight on past a private track then turn left on a recently restored path going downhill to a hedge. Turn right and follow the hedge uphill gently to the exit from the common. Turn left and return to the car park on the outward route.
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