Gallery

-

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’. 

---

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.

---

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.

---

Byworth Long Walk on 29th March 2024

The overnight high winds and rain made for some trepidation on Good Friday morning as we met up in The Welldiggers Arms car park in Byworth clambering into an assortment of wet weather gear. The 9:00 am start of our 9 mile long walk took us up Kingspit Lane up to Flexham Park where we joined the Serpent Trail which formed the majority of our route. By the time we were half way across the Park, in between detours to avoid the mud and lakes on the path, a modicum of disrobing accompanied the rain stopping. By the time we reached Bognor Common we were entertained with a stripper’s jumper twirl as more garments came off as the sun came out and the temperature increased. We turned left up through Mitfords Copse, crossed a field of radish, into the woods again, turned south onto Bedham Lane, then left again into Fittleworth Woods. The Serpent Trail took us south to Churchwood where we stopped for coffee, some nibbles and photos around the capped off well. We encountered the muddiest part of the walk on the footpath down to Fittleworth for a quick dogleg on the pavements before turning west and up onto Hesworth Common where we left the Serpent Trail. At the vantage point on Hesworth Common we stopped for some minor first aid and photos which allowed us walk towards Hesworth Farm and increasing photo opportunities as the sunshine dispersed the clouds to allow the blue sky to lighten our spirits. The footpaths took us west until Highhoes Copse where we headed north through the copse and over the fields onto the main A road. A short distance later we turned right onto the country lane, through Byworth and then taking the footpath at Hallgate Farm which took us back to The Welldiggers Arms. The pub had a roaring trade on the Good Friday allowing us to enjoy a relaxed and extended lunch that we enjoyed immensely as a reward for our 4 ¼ hours hard work.

---

Chalton walk on 27th March 2024

A mere eight hardy souls gathered in the Fox Goes Free car park at Charlton for our short 3 mile walk. The weather forecast wind and rain, but we were bathed in sunshine on the way to the walk and we felt we were prepared for the heavens offerings. Setting off on Charlton Road past North Lane starting the climb up to Levin Down with the wind whistling around our ears, we took the left path once we were on the Down and took the benefit of the bench to get our breath back and admire the views across to Goodwood Grandstand and the Trundle. The rain started before we left Levin Down Clump so more rain gear was donned and erected for the rest our walk across the fields of Levin Down into Lady Wood. A perfectly placed fallen tree provided seating and table for our coffee break as the woods sheltered us from the increasing rain. By the time we left Lady Wood, the rain was certainly persistent but we were soon on a more solid track past Broadham House with it’s manicured garden when we turned onto the New Lipchis Way for a short while before choosing the bridlepath leading down the east slope of Levin Down on chalk to the West Sussex Literary Trail on North Lane. By this time the rain was running off the waterproof tops and soaking the trousers of those who were not fully kitted out so we squelched back to the cars earlier than planned. The Fox Goes Free were happy to see us turn up early and allowed us to warm up and steam gently in front of their fires before feeding us fantastic food and drink.

---

• Page 1 of 86
• ←
• 1
• 2
• 3
• →