Gallery

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Stansted Walk on 1st May 2024

Isabel did well to get us to the starting point and arrange dry, sunny weather for our walk. 

We met up at Stansted Park Garden centre for our five mile walk passing St Paul’s Chapel and the front of the Edwardian Stansted Park House when we were distracted by the highland cattle lying down as if recovering from a hard night out.  We took the path at the edge of New Coopers Wood, Rosamond’s Hill and at the crossroads at Wythy Piece turned east across the fields to Broadreed Farm, then on to the woodland at the edge of Watergate Hanger where we stopped for our coffee break before heading south east.  On reaching WoodlandsLane we turned west skirting the edge of Lordington Copse, crossing fields and woods until we returned to the path beside the highland cattle that had woken up by then.  Lunch was a fine affair at the Victoria Inn at West Marden.

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Suttton and Bignor walk 24th April 2024

Sally promised us a walk of 4.9 miles of woodland tracks, muddy farmyard and road walking which was augmented by sunny intervals which she would not take credit for.

 Our first challenge was on the road up to the Car Park where we met a Highways lorry filling the potholes but not wanting to accommodate oncoming traffic which caused various levels of frustration. Once all had arrived 17 walkers crossed the road from the Car Park and walked along woodland paths in the direction of the village of Sutton. To avoid the deep puddle and mud of the more direct path we walked up into the village on the road admiring the houses and their beautifully kept gardens

Passing the White Horse Inn on our right we followed the footpath up onto the ridge and walked down through farmland with wonderful views, over the stream, up onto the road that lead us around to the farm. We then headed towards Bignor Park House, first taking the path through the woods of a valley carpeted with wild garlic where we had a very welcome coffee stop sitting on the fallen tree trunks and then across fields towards the house where we met with an unexpected herd of young cows.

 Safely back on the estate road we made our way down onto the woodland tracks which still had the puddles but the water had subsided so we could navigate around the edges. The Car park was in sight allowing us 20 minutes to drive to the Badgers pub..  A quick change out of walking footwear, a bounce across the car park and some nifty car parking at The Badgers Inn at Coultershaw Bridge followed for lunch which was very busy. A wait for our food gave us lots of time to chat but when it came was delicious.

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Chidham walk on 17th April 2024

John and Maureen took us on a walk that they are very familiar with, around Chidham. We were blessed with pleasant weather on a rare coastal walk for the group, with some cloudy  patches, but mostly sunny skies to help us cheerfully along ( and no mud or hills!) . We were fifteen walkers, taking the scenic route around the Chidham Peninsula and Cobnor point, with big skies and stunning views across both the Chichester and Bosham channels  towards Itchenor and the ‘ picture book’ village of Bosham itself.  We stopped about half way round, at a bird hide on the beach near Cobnor, for our coffee break. As the photo shows, a few walkers could not resist a seat in the hide, to watch for seabirds no doubt, whilst sipping their drinks in comfort.

The latter part of the walk took us back inland, eventually passing the old Manor House of Chidham and the pretty village church, which a number of walkers took time to explore inside, before we all retired to The Old House at Home pub, for our well earned drinks and chosen lunches. The lively conversation around the table seemed to indicate that the walk had indeed been well enjoyed, and as some said, ‘ a pleasant change’. 

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Rake walk on 10th April 2024

The 4.7 mile walk started at The Flying Bull pub at Rake, but the pre walk revealed the last third of the walk was too wet and muddy so had to be changed which meant the first time it was walked was on the real event.  We crossed the old A3 and picked up the Serpent Trail outside the old post office building with the royal coat of arms carved in the façade stone and stayed on it, coming into Rake Hanger.  We walked the length of the ancient woodland which is a Site of Scientific Interest coming out onto a road to cross following the Serpent Trail through the Combe Hill mountain bike assault course.  The drops, jumps and turns seemed insane to us although a few walkers admitted they may have been tempted when they were younger.  Another road crossing kept us on the Serpent Trail through woodland where an inviting tree trunk beckoned our attention for our coffee break.  Rain tried to dampen our spirits at this time but did not hang around for long.  A left turn took us off the Serpent Trail through a fenced footpath on the Fyning Hill Estate down through mud and puddles to Harting Combe Road which we endured until we could head north across a field and into woodland, eventually skirting the east bank of Combe Pond.  We discharged onto Canhouse Lane which took us back to The Flying Bull and a very tasty lunch for us all.

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Lodsworth walk on 3rd April 2024

We were promised a 4.5 mile muddy walk, which delivered in bath sized quantities to earn the title of muddiest walk this year. Eleven of us met up at the Halfway Bridge Inn and headed up the hill through a field towards Lodsworth coming out on Church Lane. Staying on roads for a while along The Street, Gills Lane and School Lane we entered Vining Copse on paths new to us. A short drop down a valley to cross a stream only to climb up the other side on Hoe Hill where we turned onto the Serpent Trail, stopping for coffee overlooking Snapelands Copse. We stayed on the Trail walking at the edge of the field beside Snapelands Copse before heading across the Redlands Farm and crossing the field heading to Smithbrook. This path brought us onto School Lane to walk up hill back to Shepherds Lane to drop down to The Street before taking the footpath down to Old Copse. A tree had fallen, breaking the handrail of the bridge over the stream and we discovered the elevated walkways stopped short of a particularly muddy section. More downhill took us to Eel Bridge where the stream was the highest we have ever seen. Walking up into River Wood we followed the river back to Beggars’ Corner and the Halfway Bridge Inn where a lovely meal rewarded our efforts.

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