Gallery

Viewing galleries from April, 2023

East Dean walk on 26th April 2023

We had a dry morning for our walk led by Jay, starting out from East Dean. We headed south for Monarch's Way, up a steep path in a field, which needed a few stops to allegedly admire the view. The path took us between Eastdean Park and Chalton Park up to the Counter's Gate and at this point we turned away from the Monarch's Way to take the Chalk Road down to Chalton. This route passes close to the Goodwood Racecourse, where horse racing has taken place annually since 1801. On the way down we found the perfect coffee stop with a seat and a glorious view over towards the South Downs ridge (perfect is a slight exaggeration, there was only one bench!). When we neared Chalton, we passed Fox Hall, used by the Duke of Monmouth as a fox hunting Lodge in 1680. Local surviving foxes were probably relieved to hear he had been beheaded only five years later. After walking through the village we turned up the West Sussex Literary Trail (North Lane) beside Levins Down and up another hill, again providing great views and the opportunity to re-oxygenate! Once in Wood Lea wood we left the Literary Trail to head back towards East Dean and the welcoming Star and Garter where we had lunch.

All ready for the off

Comparing notes on breathlessness

No, we're not breathless

Heading down Chalk Road

Coffee stop

Some of us didn't even need a seat!

The wonderful rolling countryside to enjoy

Violets hiding in the woods

Bluebells in North Lane

The Trundle at Goodwood almost visible in the distance

Cowslips are back again!

Back in the village, passing the Village Hall

Plenty of rosemary - where's the lamb?

Star and Garter in the typical Sussex flint and brick

Walkers at rest!

About 5 miles

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Midhurst walk on 19th April 2023

With the laudable wish to support Midhurst whilst it suffers from the effect of the fire in the Angel Hotel, Pauline had a very well researched walk around the town. We started from the Grange car park and passed the 17th C Bricklayers Arms on our way to North Street. The damage to the Angel Hotel and adjacent buildings was very sad to see. It was originally built as a coaching Inn in the 17th C and where the Pilgrim Fathers stayed  before setting off for America. The current frontage is 19th C. Opposite the Angel is the Tesco store, architecturally now dated but only built after the demolition of the Odeon Cinema in 1966. The Odeon was a large Victorian building, capable of seating 750 in its prime.

After looking at the disaster site, we wandered past Midhurst Grammar School where H G Wells was a pupil and teacher, before reaching the River Rother and the huge corn mill building, some parts dating from 1810. From there we headed for Cowdray House, built in the style of a castle in the early 1500's. Visited by Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I.   Guy Fawkes was employed as a footman and his employer, the 2nd Viscount was imprisoned as he was accused of being complicit in the plot to destroy Parliament in 1605. However this had nothing to do with the fire that eventually almost completely destroyed  Cowdray House in 1793. After this we headed for St Ann's Hill, passing the Wharf which no longer sees any barges. The last barge departed Midhurst in 1871 carrying a cargo of timber. The ‘Eleanor’, pulled by horse, arrived in Weybridge ten days later. We then climbed a slope to have a look at the site of a castle, once on St Ann's Hill. Built at the same time as Arundel Castle it had completely disappeared by the 15th Century and whilst walls are visible they are 20th C replicas of  where the walls had originally been. After our exertions (we had walked over a mile!) we stopped in the Market Square, home to some old stocks and the even older St Mary and St Denys Church to drink some excellent coffee from Comestibles across the road. Suitably refreshed we were able to put a few more miles on the clock by walking past South Pond (once the fish pond for the castle that once stood on St Anns Hill) and up the Jubilee Path, then on to New Road and subsequently Heathfield Park.  After walking down Carron Lane we took another diversion through St Margarets Way to reach our lunch stop in Redh . We hadn't covered many miles but had travelled through centuries of history, kindly provided by walk leader Pauline. An excellent journey.

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Midhurst Post Office built in 1932, once also housed the telephone exchange

Outside the Bricklayers Arms in Wool Lane 17th C and The Wheatsheaf in the distance, also 17th C

Angel Hotel looking very sad

Three shops also destroyed in the fire

Midhurst Grammar School - became co-educational in 1956. H G Wells was a teacher/pupil in 1883

Partly dating from 1810, used to grind corn to at least 1927, and probably later.

Getting a potted history of this extraordinary House. The small one (the Round House) to the left was the building

that controlled the water to the main house.

Approaching the main gate

All nicely lined up for a group photo.

Plenty of gates across the river

River Rother flows past on its way to Stopham and the River Arun

Catkins - a sure sign of spring. A flower spike of many tree types - willow, hazel and silver birch etc. (says google!)

On top of St Ann's Hill, site of the original Midhurst Castle

Midhurst stocks outside the old Town Hall, last used in anger in 1859.

Three locals, trying hard to ignore the stocks behind them.

Drinks!

More resting walkers.

Who are these people?

Spread Eagle Hotel dates from 1430. Queen Elizabeth I stayed there and Lord Nelson paused for a while.

South Pond, once the fish pond for Midhurst Castle

Apple blossom near the  Jubilee Path

St Margaret's Way. on the site of the old St Margaret's Convent which closed in 2009.

Red. H was the last stop for the walkers/strollers. All looking forward to lunch in a building once called The Three Horshoes.

Not too many miles!

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Duncton Walk on 12th April 2023

We gathered at The Cricketers in Dunction for the 5.3mile walk led by Jay and Lindsay. Entering Burton Park through the Grade II listed gateway past the magnificent building dating from 1875 which is the current construction following a long history of other buildings, fires and developments, now being residences but having been requestioned by the army in WWII, a girls boarding school and police dog training centre. The parkland originates from the 13th century and was landscaped in the 18th and 19th century. We skirted Burton Church (Grade I listed tiny Norman) before stopping to admire the largest sweet chestnut tree we had ever seen.

A group photo opportunity was taken at the Burton Mill Pond weir enjoying the bracing wind followed by a stroll through The Moor and The Warren woodland down to Sutton where a coffee break was enjoyed in the sun at St John Baptist’s church. Kathryn’s birthday chocolates went down a treat. Suitably victualled we headed north west over fields and a stream to Barlavington, past St Mary’s Church (end of 12th Century), across more fields to Duncton Mill and the Trout farm. We made our way back to The Cricketers where we revelled in our excellent lunch choices.

Ready to go, astonished at the sunshine after the earlier rain

I really should check I have matching footwear before I leave home

Burton Park

This is a bargain property, you can trust us to do you a great deal!

Tiny, Norman Burton Church

Giant Sweet Chestnut Tree

Team photo at the Mill Pond

Leading from the front

Of course if you will wear the wrong footwear!

The coffee break

You’d better be quick, not sure it’ll hold up much longer

Pond with island and algae

St Mary’s Church, Barlavington with the two arcade bay blocked off

Oh dear what are they over there?

Deer, dear, and a pheasant

The rain came at the Trout Farm

The welcome lunch

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Beacon Hill walk on 5th April 2023

With the generous help of Beacon Hill Football Club, we found ourselves at the start of our walk. After a wander through some backroads in Beacon Hill we eventually turned down into the Golden Valley. Despite the steep path and slightly alternative route, we were successful in finding ourselves at one of the lowest points in the valley accessible to the public, with a fence guarding a large house further down the valley. Turning back we took the slow path up the valley to eventually reach the main Hindhead to Farnham road. From there we wandered up to the viewpoint at the Devils Punch Bowl.

There are many stories about how the Devil's Punch Bowl got its name - an argument with Thor  or even the Devil wishing to flood the area as too many churches were being built. However on good authority it can be revealed that the Devil stole a cauldron from a witch near Waverley Abbey. She chased after him, he leapt from hill to hill (the Devils Jumps near Churt) and the Devil eventually went to earth, creating the Devils Punch Bowl. By way of proof, the cauldron can still be seen in Frensham Church....... perhaps a future walk may go that way?

After a drinks stop in the area of the Punch Bowl Cafe, we headed north along the edge of the Punch Bowl. 0ur route diverted down a little used path to Gravel Hanger, below Marchants Hill. It is a good path, little used, surrounded by trees on small hills either side. However, what goes down must go up so we had a long ascent which needed a few pauses to recuperate before we reached the top. The path then went alongside grounds of the PGL activity centre - who seem to specialize in adventure holidays for 8 to 16 year olds. Abseil towers, zip wires, giant swings are all part of the menu and despite young popular opinion PGL does not stand for Parents Get Lost, but are the initials of the founder, Peter Gordon Lawrence, who started it all in the 1950's.  A short way up the road we were re-united with our cars and then took the journey to the Fox and Pelican in Grayshott, where we had an excellent lunch.

The pre-walk team talk and huddle

Upright citizens, but the trees weren't

You're going the wrong way, no you really are, don't you believe me?

Striding towards the coffee break, pity someone spilt theirs earlier

The coffee break

Sharing my coffee may persuade you to let me join, but I won't let on I just wanted a lighter rucksack for the rest of the walk

The nonchalant leader and his flock

Nessum Dorma OK, I'll conduct, you sing, on the count of three.....

A good gardener is always equipped for that last minute pruning

We will not all fit in there for lunch.

Getting our breath back half way up the final ascent

The summit team, Sherpa Tenzing, eat your heart out!

Originally built as a temperance house. One shareholder was a certain George Bernard Shaw who lived just up the road

Luckily the temperance tradition had been changed and it is now owned by Fullers, a well known purveyor of refreshing drinks....

About 4 miles

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