We had no idea what to expect as we cautiously peered through a hole in the trees and down a dark footpath.
We had accepted a challenge to find the source of the River Mole but we hadn’t been able to find anything about it on-line, except that the river rose in Baldhorns Copse in the village of Rusper.
The Paths through the Copse Onwards to the Source! The River Mole A Troll’s Swamp? I was inclined to agree but wasn’t sure why we both sensed that – maybe the boggy mud or maybe the putrid stench. The Source of the Mole It narrowed quickly, became a tiny trickle and then disappeared into a hole – the source of the River Mole! The children were thrilled. A Second Source… Two sources for the price of one – a lucky but smelly find! Baldhorns Copse How to Find It From the top of Steeres Hill, turn left onto Horsham Road and the footpath is a very short walk away, on the opposite side of the road. Further down the footpath you come to a fork. Straight on leads to the meadow but via a narrow path. Turning right leads to the source of the Mole and is also an easier way into the meadow.
The footpath was a little muddy at first but quickly dried out and widened into more of a tree-lined avenue.
When we reached a fork in the footpath we went through the trees…
…and came straight out into a meadow full of butterflies 
and an intricate flower we later identified as an orchid!
We explored the meadow and then followed a narrow, bramble-lined path back into the woods.
And it was there that we first saw the Mole, although it was more of a stagnant puddle than a flowing river.
“This is definitely a troll’s swamp,” someone said as we walked through the trees.
We followed the fledgling river upstream. 
Next to the source of the Mole was the source of the stench – a stinkhorn, something we’d never seen before.
Baldhorns Copse itself is small but fun. We made a den, went bug hunting and played hide and seek.
The footpath starts on Horsham Road near to the junction with Steeres Hill (RH12 4PT).
Visit the Baldhorns Copse website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Rusper Opens: Daily Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. How Long We Spent There: About three hours. Parking: There is no car park but we parked on a nearby residential road called Steeres Hill (RH12 4PT). Wildlife You Might See: Insects and birds. Information Written: May 2017
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH12 4PT
Cost: Free
Facilities: None
Buggies: I used an all-terrain buggy without any problems.
Cost of Parking: Free
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Our visit to the source of the River Mole in Baldhorns Copse in Rusper is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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