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Arundel Long walk on 8th September 2023

The 14 mile long walk led by Paul started near Houghton on what promised to be one of the hottest days of the year. Even with an earlier start than normal, the heat and humidity was already making its presence felt. We started on the South Downs Way, crossing the River Arun, fields and the railway line north of Amberley and rising back up onto the Downs with the heat reflecting off the chalk paths. At Rackham Banks we left the South Downs Way heading south dropping down past herds of sheep and Belted Galloway Cattle across Wepham Down to walk beside the Gallops on a wide mown grassy path. Despite the heat, Tenantry Copse jutted close to the path to offer shade for a coffee break although the grass was still dewy in the shade. The banter continued unabated as we turned onto Monarchs Way heading to Warningcamp and pedestrian crossing of the railway line. Clambering up the south bank of the River Arun we followed it round to Arundel with the castle and the cathedral on the horizon. At the 10 mile mark we detoured into The Norfolk Arms for shade, fluids and sustenance, not necessarily in that order of desire. A gentle climb took us into Arundel Park, around the Hiorne Tower, built by Francis Hiorne as he bid for the contract to rebuild the castle in 1797. The views over Mill Hanger were excellent before we dropped into the valley and up the opposite side enabling us to exercise our shepherding skills. The steep descent into South Wood brought us back to banks of the River Arun and onto the final leg up to Houghton and back to our starting point.

Ready to start?

The Arun with hanging morning mist

On the South Downs Way heading into the mist

Belted Galloways ignoring us

Views across to Camp Hill

According to the map, ‘There be monsters’

The hardy walkers

Taking a breather

The coffee break in the shade

Strolling down the wide mown path

It would be rude not to try out the blackberries

Bit of a mangrove forest here

Warningcamp Hill

What are you doing here?

By the River Arun with the castle in the background

Castle overlooking the river

The The The Hiorne Tower folly

Tightrope walking the Mill Hanger

Sheep leading the way

Returning to the Arun

Milland walk on 6th September 2023

We all rose and gathered together at The Rising Sun for Jean’s 4.5 mile walk in Milland. Our numbers were swelled by three new walkers eager to walk and talk or vice versa. Regrettably, our supply of regular photographers were absent, sorely missed and the consequent lack of visual stimulation in the write up lamentable.(Author is being unduly modest - please ignore. Ed) A gentle start along Fernhurst Road took us to the footpath towards Mill Farm before the pond until we came out onto Milland Road which was originally a Roman road. No stashes of Roman swords or artefacts were found which was disappointing, but we took to the footpaths again anyway across fields to the site of a Mill and Mill pond where we debated whether this was the origin of the village name. A gentle rise across a field made us realise how hot and humid it was and to appreciate the coolness of the woods where we stopped for our coffee break. The shade of woods continued until we took a detour to look at a scruffy Milland Place. It was rebuilt by Herbert Pelly in 1900 after a fire demolished the previous building in the 1890s and subsequently owned by Viscountess Massereene and Ferrard. Both the Kaiser and Winston Churchill were guests of the Dowager Lady Massereene and Ferrard at Milland Place before the First World War. The Kaiser played racquets despite his withered arm. It was later purchased by a Polish couple who opened it up as a hotel after WWII, before they ran it as a care home until 1988. At this point it was sold and refurbished into an 18 bedroom hotel, before being sold again to its current owner. We returned to intended route, admired their pond and bridge before returning to Milland Road. Turning off to the west we got a glimpse of Hugh Gaitskell’s old house when we encountered some sheep that were keen to usher us out of their shade. Crossing more fields in the direct sun, skirting round Hulls Copse, we parted company briefly with some of our walkers who went for the shortcut back to the pub due to the heat. The rest carried on across fields down to Rake Road with a small detour past Marsh Wood, New Barn Farm and Cook’s Pond until we sped up back on Rake Road to the Rising Sun where we enjoyed our al fresco lunch in the shade.

The Mill in Milland?

Enjoying the shade of the woods

Breaking out into sunshine .

What do you reckon, left or right?

Coffee break, spot the sun lovers.

The pond and bridge at Milland

We were here first, get out of our shade.

Go on, give us a kiss.

Nope, not a carrot between us, sorry!

Cook’s Pond

Grayswood walk 30th August 2023

We met up at Grayswood village hall car park for Tim and Jane’s 5 mile walk, crossed the village green down Lower Road towards Clammer Hill Road and onto the footpath behind gardens. We skirted Frillinghurst Wood. Breaking out into a field gave great scenic views until we came out onto Prestwick Lane before turning off through a fruit tree orchard and some automotive excitement. There were a few locations for foraging blackberries that we found it difficult to ignore. We walked the edge of a field with sheep back into the edge of Frillinghurst Wood where some forestry work gave us plenty of seating for our coffee break. At the tee junction we branched off to Frillinghurst Farm to enjoy their Jacob sheep and tramped across fields and woods, fought our way through ferns until we came to a peaceful pond. Turning right towards Imbhams Farm more woods and ferns were encountered until tarmac of Clammer Hill allowed us to speed up back to our starting point. A quick drive into Haslemere saw us diverting into The White Horse for lunch.

Starting out across the village green

Clammer Hill

Walkers clamoring for attention

The views make it worthwhile

Meet the Shaun family

Blackberry foraging

Follow the leader?

or line abreast?

It says here on the treasure map

A civilised coffee stop

Time for more blackberry foraging?

I think we can take this as a sign

Ferns as far as the eye can see

The tree’s reaching out to get us

but we got away

Wild flowers and rolling countryside

A haven of peace

Hello Jacob, I’m Tim

Celebration at the White Horse

Just over 4 miles

Elsted walk on 23rd August 2023

Celia and Miguel’s 4.5 mile walk started at the Three Horseshoes in Elsted on a gloriously sunny day with views across the South Downs. In uplifted spirits we crossed the stubble field, through a copse, across a stream and skirted another field to come out onto the Treyford to Elsted Marsh road. We ambled through Newhouse Farm, smartly sidestepping the large tractor heading out to remote fields and paused to look at the young Partridges strutting and pecking.

There were a few stops to rest in the shade of the tall hedgerows to cool down, and have some water before we reached a shaded corner where we relaxed for our coffee stop on the edge of Didling. Fortified, we walked down to Manor Farm when one of us realised we had failed the ‘leave no trace’ ethos by leaving their well-travelled walking stick behind. The rest of us took the opportunity to relax in the shade a bit more while said walking stick was recovered. The South Downs were a constant reminder to the south of us what amazing countryside we reside in as we crossed fields heading to Treyford. We milled around expectantly for cats to cross the road to heed the warnings but they must have been off hunting smaller prey. Taking the road towards Redlands, we passed the old Treyford church graveyard and soon picked up another footpath taking us up the hill where we could feel our lunch calling.

The al fresco lunch on shaded tables with the Downs bathed in sunshine, great food and drink all accompanied by a peep of chickens was a lovely way to finish a walk with friends.

Skirting a stubble field

The shepherd herding his flock

Partridges in a corner wondering which one was going to make it to the Pear Tree

A bit steeper than the undulations we were promised

But the views of the Downs are worth it

Flowers between the beds of Thistles?

One hesitant sheep just before it decides to follow the flock down the hill

Enjoying the shade and a photo

Enjoying our coffee break even more

Leading the way

Leading the way Sun, fields, Downs…..what more could one ask for?

Never mind the cat crossing, leading a walk is like herding cats

Planes steak across the sky while we streak down the hill

All smiles on the final leg back to the pub

A delicious repast

Let’s sneak off just in case they ordered chicken pie

Finchdean walk on the 9th August 2023

The five and a half mile walk from The George Inn at Finchdean took us up Ashcroft Lane where we picked up the Sussex Border Path footpath by the hedgerow of a field heading north on a gentle climb with a few stops to get our breath back and catch up. We stopped at a couple of places to admire the sunflowers and wild flowers that the South Downs Farmers’ Group had planted in corners of their fields to attract pollinating insects. One of our walkers must be a bit of a flower as a butterfly to landed on him in confusion. We skirted Oxleys Copse overlooking the old field system, past The Folly with Idsworth Down falling away to our right and views across to Ditcham Park School, West Harting Down, and Uppark in the distance. The sky was clear to allow us to see across to the Isle of Wight at one point. The peak of our walk was above Chalton Down where we crossed a stubble field to shuffle down the steep drop at Chalton Down through hazelnut bushes, wild flowers and brambles, pausing to watch the mainline train thunder past on its way to Portsmouth. At the bottom, we got back onto a road to cross over the railway line, pose for our team photo and stop at the start of the Huckswood Lane track for our coffee break. Refreshed, there was a slight incline up to the edge of the disused quarry where we continued on the Staunton Way by turning south descending to Compton Down Road which we crossed coming to the rear of The Church of St Hubert at Idsworth. The church of St Peter was first rebuilt in 10th Century. Its small tower and Chancel were added in the 12th or 13th centuries and the south wall was rebuilt in its new position in 16th Century. In 1864 the wall paintings on the north wall were discovered which included the conversion of St Hubert to Christianity which led to the rededication of the church to St Hubert. We dallied in the church and the wild meadow too long, so elected to continue on the road back to Finchdean and The George Inn for an enjoyable al fresco lunch in great company.