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West Marden walk on 11th October 2023

Maureen and John led the 5.6 mile walk from The Victoria Inn at West Marden where we pre ordered our lunches. We were blessed by the early morning drizzle finishing before the walk to leave us with warm, dry weather, albeit cloudy. Having parked up, counted us all there, we headed up the hill taking the first path north on the edge of Lostlabour Copse, through Bottom Copse and across the fields. We were promised great views, even with a peek at the Isle of Wight, but were only rewarded with local rolling landscapes and wispy mists. A couple of walkers enjoyed the benefits from the carved seat on the corner overlooking the scenery. We made our way to Hill Barn and turned across the field into Robin Wood where we had our coffee break under a broad tree. Continuing through the woods passing seamlessly into Markwells Wood we eventually broke out into the open with views of the railway and across to Idsworth House until we came to South Holt Farm where we turned for home. Crossing fields again we returned into Markwells Wood, then back into the open to Horsley Farm and then the down hill with gravel and clay underfoot back to the main road. On returning to The Victoria Inn, no sooner had we collected our drinks than our lunches arrived thick and fast.

One of the walk leaders getting excited about starting

Tree mirror imaging roots with canopy

The edge of Lostlabour Copse

The art of trimming overgrowing path hedges is concentration and tools, lots of tools

A purposeful lead

Definitely the Isle of Wight on the horizon

Taking a break on the bench carved from a tree trunk

The walkers

Harmonious leaders, united on the way forward

Coffee break with added humour

Are you sure? I could have sworn it was shorter down there!

Well, the Isle of Wight could be over there!

No, it’s that way

Looking back on Old Idsworth valley

Leaving the wood for a glimpse of overseas?

Yes, if I squint I can just see The Isle of Wight

Spindle berries in competition with blueberry nails

Almost finished!

About 5.1/2 miles

Halfway Bridge, Lodsworth walk on 4th October 2023

As we gathered in the car park of The Halfway Bridge Inn, we spotted a lone walker from another group that had cancelled their walk and welcomed him in, with a quickfire introduction of all our names that he had no chance of remembering. Luckily, we all respond well to ‘what’s you name again’ as we have to do that ourselves occasionally! The 4 mile walk started from what was the original front of the pub, up the hill past cooking apple trees which were confirmed by the taste method, followed swiftly by extruded tongues with a slight delay, to then enjoy the benefit of a hewn seat with great views south to the Downs. Church Street led us to The Street where we turned south, enjoyed the brief vibrant red hue of the Virginia Creeper before taking to the footpaths and the first two of our five stiles. The team photo opportunity was taken in the field overlooked by Lodsworth House followed by our third stile and fields to cross Heath End Lane before descending through woodland and skirting fields to another branch of Heath End Road. Turning onto the north bridle path on the edge of Heathland Copse we stopped off for our coffee break and birthday celebration chocolates while decoratively draped on a fallen tree trunk. The bridle path took the refuelled walkers up to Heath End Farm for the short road walk back to Lodsworth, down The Street before turning down Vicarage Lane to St Peters Well, a field and across Eel Bridge where we turned again to follow the Lod back to the Halfway Bridge. A relaxed atmosphere at the Halfway Bridge with an enjoyable lunch finished off our adventure.

Should we walk first or head straight into the pub?

It’s early October so too early to be ‘walking backwards for Christmas’, but you never know

Yep, that’s a cooking apple all right

Enjoying the view from a sculpted bench

Climbing up the hill

Perfect Virginia Creeper colour

The contractual obligation team shot with finest poses

Enjoying the sunshine and leaning into the hill

It’s no good, litter just has to be picked up

Descending through the fern to get back into the sunshine

Verdant plants, perfect sky, and the walkers aren’t bad either

Branching out for our coffee break

View from further up this huge tree trunk

So big it now has two silver birch trees growing from its upturned root

Quick, look up there - is that a pixie hiding in that tree??

St Peter's Well Cottage, once home to explorer, adventurer and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes

St Peter’s Well, supposed to cure eye ailments, would you bathe your eyes in that?

Striding down to Eel Bridge

The Lod at the bottom of the valley

Just under 5 miles

Midhurst walk on 27th September 2023

Linda and Pauline led our 4 mile walk from Midhurst’s North Car Park in a new format where walkers joined and left during the walk. A leisurely stroll down The Causeway took us to the Cowdray Ruins then past the sports field and polo fields to Cowdray Café where we found another walker to join us. Crossing the A272 we made our way up Easebourne Street and into Glaziers Lane, past the cemetery and onto the pathway through the maize fields to Wick Lane. Branching off Wick Lane at the corner we sauntered at the edge of the field, turning round to admire the view across the valley to the South Downs before entering the woods of North Heath. The coffee break was at the Birds Nest availing ourselves of the rustic seating and enjoying the first of the birthday treats of the day. Desperate to benefit from our sugar rush we strode through the evergreen woodland into the coppice trees towards Scotland Knob when we took the path heading down the hill, along the edge of North Heath woodland picking our way through the gullies and sand deposits made by last weeks rain. At the bottom of Winters Lane we bade farewell to one of our walkers and headed across the fields to retrace our steps to Glaziers Lane. At the Cowdray Café we came across a stray walker to scoop up and take to the Red H in Midhurst to celebrate our local walk with lunch and a second birthday celebration treat.

All ready in the car park.

Leading the way down the Causeway to Cowdray ruins

Heading off down The Causeway, all fresh as daisies.

All still together at the start of the hill

Thanks be, we made it up the first hill

Shooting the breeze while we get our breath back

Amaizing

Happy hikers.

Tree art

Take as many as you want, it’s my birthday treat

Coffee break at The Bird’s Nest

There’s always time to crack a good joke

Downhill in astounding countryside

Scenery, good company, oh and cleaning up the countryside as we go

Lovely views of the South Downs. Walkers aren’t bad either

Well earned lunch at Red H

Hinton Ampner walk on 20th September 2023

With heavy rain forecast to start at 11.00 am and continue all day, Denis wisely decided our walking should be within easy sprinting distance of shelter. Actually the rain was late and we had an excellent 2.1/2 hours walking around the Georgian country estate of Hinton Ampner. It was given to the National Trust by Ralph Dutton (8th Baron Sherborne) who was unmarried and had no heirs, in 1985. We started in the enclosed vegetable/flower garden, with some wonderful planting and much time was spent trying to decide the names of different plants. The huge sunflowers were past their best but dahlias were everywhere and bloomin' beautiful. Pumpkins were huge and the arch of squashes was spectacular. The cordon apple and pears looked very productive, as did a nicely shaped medlar tree. Leaving the walled garden, we had a look at a huge yew hedge pruned to the shape of cumulus clouds. The cutting was the work of the head gardener, John, who we were lucky to meet on our tour, but sadly it was his last day with the National Trust as he has a new job up north. The church made a good spot for a coffee break before continuing our tour of the grounds. We had an excellent guide to show us around the rest of the grounds, with a promise of a bluebell walk in the New Year - not to be missed! During our lunch in the cafe the heavens opened and we were happy to avoid any more outside walking! Some of us were able to have a look around the house, lavishly decorated with notable examples of Regency art and decorative objects. The walking was about 2.1/2 miles, but at least we stayed dry!

Hinton Ampner, built 1793, remodelled 1867, remodelled again in 1936/9 and extensively repaired after a fire in 1960

Now looking much as it was when originally built in 1793

First view of the extensive flower and vegetable garden.

Runner bean arch

After extensive testing, we found our expert guide rarely wrong with plant names

Flowers in profusion.

Potting shed

Leaving the walled garden

Volunteer hedge clipper needed - previous experience essential!

The Saxon church of All Saints

Within is a memorial stone to Lady Elizabeth Trott - daughter of the Lord Mayor of London who died in 1693:-

Wealthy Wth Witt, Wth Beauty Gratious, Shee Livd in a Prudent Generosity

Lots of interesting plants in the Dell, including a banana tree.

Dahlias on the eastern approach

Lily pond has a few residents

Koi carp, the coloured versions unknown outside of Japan until 1914. One sold in 2018 for around $2m

Taking a wander towards Kilmeston

The Long Walk

This is a Gnomon (that's the bit on top of the sundial, apparently)

Amongst the horse chestnut trees, she stoops to conker.

Graffham walk on 13th September 2023

Jay and Lindsey saved the day by stepping in to lead the walk because the walk organiser had caught a prevalent virus of the time. The remaining band gathered in the car park of The Foresters in Graffham for a short walk on the high street to the war memorial and across a field, passing some blackberries on the way. At Galloways a right turn, through an automatic gate brought us back to the road past an abandoned shelter that looked as if it had been a small chapel or school building. Leaving the road on the bend back onto pathways led us into the woodland in Gaffham Down at the foot of the Downs. The route tracked the base of the Downs heading east, following the contours of the hills through woodland with stinging nettles and brambles trying to catch us. To the south of Seaford College we headed north through the college grounds and East Lavington housing until we took a path west towards Lavington Stud Farm. Our coffee break was enjoyed in an open area before heading into bordered paths where more blackberries tempted us and open fields beckoned us to the recreation ground and The Foresters Arms where we enjoyed our lunch.