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Bubble walks 28th October 2020

Denis led the walk from the Grange car park and we did a circular tour of West Lavington and it included finding out where the air raid shelters where in WW2. Very enjoyable but unfortunately the rain had not seen the forecast and seemed to carry on for much of the morning. We walked the path below St Ann's Hill fully prepared to do our final walk up the Causeway and back through the town, but at that point the heavens opened and after sheltering we decided to climb and explore St Ann's Hill instead. A coffee stop in the square was very welcome before finally walking along West Street and back to the car park. A damp but very enjoyable walk. Walk was around 3 miles.

Not a promising start!

Bridge at the bottom of The Wharf. The Wharf once was an unloading point for coal, brought up from the River Arun.

West Lavington Churchyard contains the grave of Richard Cobden, politician and leading figure of the Anti-Corn Law League who was born nearby at Heyshott in 1804, attended school in Midhurst, and spent much of his later life at his family home in Heyshott, Dunford farmhouse.

Denis checking his route.

Ah ha - it's not raining!

West Lavington church. As a result of falling congregations and the church's poor condition, St Mary Magdalene church was closed in September 2008 and the congregation transferred to neighbouring Cocking.

Heavy rain failed to dampen spirits.

Climbing up St Ann's Hill

The house on St Ann's Hill. What is highly likely is that Midhurst Castle on St Ann's Hill was built to safeguard the Normans' stronghold in Sussex immediately after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The monument includes the earthworks and ruined walls of a castle dating from the 12th century. The central area of the castle is the artificial mound, or motte, an existing natural prominence which was heightened using rubble. On the motte was built a roughly oval enclosing wall up to 1.7m thick which defined an area 65m north-south by 50m east-west. Backing on to the wall were a number of chambers used for living quarters, kitchens and storage, as well as a small chapel dedicated to St Denis. Quite right too!!!

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Peter led us on a wet and windy walk, (complete with thunder) from Cowdray car park at Easebourne to Glaziers Lane, then across open farm land passing some very friendly ponies, then to Easebourne Street and on to our coffee stop on Fenced Common. Then through Vining Rough back to Easebourne Street where we passed several comical pumpkins, a colourful clump of Nerines and a Victorian commemorative drinking font, finishing at Easebourne church.

Don't eat these!

Bubble walk 21st October 2020

Rain had been forecast for several days and the prediction proved correct. Four of us braved the rain, which luckily was only vertical so umbrellas were very useful. The walk was around the outside of the park and we were keeping a look-out for the deer in the midst of their rutting season. There were plenty around but mostly some way away in the middle of the park. A great deal of bellowing was going on and there were some magnificent set of antlers on view, looking far too heavy to be anything other than ornamental status symbols. The rain petered out towards the end of our walk and we ended up after our 4 mile stroll in a reasonably dry state. Very enjoyable.

Starting our walk in the Cowyard Tunnel.

Lower pond having a top-up.

The rain wasn't quite continuous.

Plenty of mushrooms on view - shaggy parasol mushroom - edible by most people.

Parasol mushroom - excellent food, but always check twice!

What's that over there?

Don't I look magnificent?!

Me and my girls.

Raining again.

There were some splendid chestnuts on the ground.

Wonderful Petworth Park

Tillington Church tower

Tillington church before the rebuild in 1807

Bubble Walks 14th October 2020

Linda and Marian's walk had two starting points, one in North Street car park, the other in Cowdray Cafe car park. From there we walked between the ancient Chestnut trees known as The Race. A quick joggle across fields and then we were heading North for Whitters Copse. In the woodland we found an ideal drink stop point with distance seating provided for all - there was even an undercover table and benches - luckily not needed this time. Turning south we reached the area of Budgenor Lodge, a workhouse from 1794, which, in 1843 was serving men on Sundays with 6 oz. of bread and 1.1/2 pints of gruel for breakfast. However do not despair, things really improved for supper with 6 oz of bread and 1.1/2 pints of broth. Women were obviously dieting as they had the same, but less bread. From there we headed for the Cowday Cafe picnic spot where, by some miracle bubbly and cake was produced for a birthday treat. It was good to meet up once again - distantly - with Jeff and Christine before the Midhurst starters left to finish their longer walk. It was a pleasure to have a guest walker join us, Nalani, who is new to the area.

Crossing the A272 at Easebourne

Heading for Whitters Copse

Yet another stile to hop over

Room for all and time to share chocolates

Good for a rainy day

Cheers - it was well worth the walk!

Those faces look familiar?

Cowdray with the funny filter on the camera - it wasn't quite that dramatic.

About 4.1/2 miles or 6+ miles with a North Street start.

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Peter’s walk started from Iping/Stedham car park, through Iping common towards Didling, then along Ingrams Green Lane, left through the woods where we bumped into a couple of very friendly Gloucester old spots! Then on to the perfect ready made coffee stop complete with seating, fire pit and surrounded by tumuli, on to Quaggs Meadow then through Stedham common to the car park. a really lovely walk.

Where shall we go from here?

Gloucester Old Spot spotted.

Hello!!

Nice picnic spot

Cauliflower fungus, very tasty but difficult to clean.

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Pauline led our walk around Petworth Park and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the start of the autumn colours around the park. As it is the rutting season, we had a number of stops to watch the deer and to listen to the roaring of the stags. We were so pleased that the sun shone and that a rain shower started only as we were driving out of the car park.

Inside Petworth Park

The house is famous for its art collection which includes works by JMW Turner of the park.

Striding out. During Second World War the park was used for 3,700 army troops and at the end of the war as a Polish resettlement camp, this closed in 1959.

Designed & landscaped by Lancelot Capability Brown in the 1750s

There are around 700 deer roaming freely within the park. The wall around the park is 14 miles long

May be a Shaggy Parasol Mushroom, edible by most people.... but more likely a plain Paraosol Mushroom, edible.

Honourable leader with a coat carefully chosen to match the vegetation?

Petworth House, one of the homes of Lady Elizabeth Percy (1667-1722). In 1682, at the age of 16 and already twice widowed, she married the 20 year old Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset.

Bubble Walks 7th October 2020

Jean's walk in Tillington was full of surprises. After walking uphill as far as the monument, the walkers were warned not to traverse Upperton Common as a power cable had fallen across the path. After some re-routing there was a surprise meeting with another bubble going in the opposite direction near Pitshill. A nice walk through the vineyards and up and down the lanes eventually ended at the Cricket pitch. Another suprise was the celebration of Jean's birthday (which she had previously kept quiet!) and to end the day an aerobatic display up in the air.

Finding a route through Upperton

Well, these people look familiar.....

Nice pond at Pitshill.

Plenty of grapes in the vineyard.

This must be the nicest picnic spot in the country!

Quality check in progress.

Male common blue

Birthday girl and amazing cookie!

Upside down French aerobatic plane CAP 232 putting on a display.

About 3.1/2 miles

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Den's walk was a nice walk through the Vineyards and up around Pitshill where we met the other bubble coming the other way. Carrying on to Upperton Common, we saw no warnings of downed power cables so carried on with our intended walk. We met 2 ladies going the other way who said a cable was across the path but easily avoided. At this moment one of our party tripped and landed face down on the path. After laying still for a short while to recover, our faller managed to get back on her feet, cheerfully claiming to be merely attention seeking. We soon found the fallen cable which was easily stepped over. After making our way to the cricket pitch we had our own (late) birthday celebrations and were fortunate to be able to share the party food from the other bubble.

Posing in the churchyard

Chardonnay in the making, we were told.

and that's France, just over the hill.

Pitshill - shell house on the left.

Inside the Shell House, looking up at the roof window. Fantastic restoration by Katherine Lloyd.

Coffee stop

Holly berries galore at Pitshill Stables

Swinging birthday girl.

Two Bubbles tea party.

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Peter’s walk started at the car park at Older hill and took us to the trig point, with fantastic views on the way, and continued through woodlands to Woolbeding Common, and on to an interesting walk through the grounds of the old King Edward V11 sanatorium. Fine weather, a very enjoyable walk.

Older hill, Titty Hill in the background.

Nice old trig point.

Autumn's here.

Some are taller than others.

Bubble Walks 30th September 2020

Linda and Tim's walk started from the church of St Peter in Terwick. We had an interesting meet up with three Alpacas before walking up to the top of the hill at Borden. A walk through Rondle Wood was interrupted by an urgent need to stop for a celebration coffee stop. Not all the coffee got drunk, but the other refreshments available seem to go down quite well. Suitably rejuvenated we turned south for Terwick Common and eventually reached our cars as the rain started to fall. About 3.6 miles.

Unusual miniature pear tree seeking a name please?

Three smartly shaved Alpacas being let out for the day.

Cheers!

What's so interesting over there?

Should have known - horses of course.

Another friendly horse.

Shall we go that way?

Another wonderful Sussex sunken lane.

About 3.6 miles.

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Peter's bubble walked around Midhurst and West Lavington and ended up in the Cowdray Cafe car park, sheltering under a convenient tree whilst the rain fell.

Handy seat, although it could conveniently be a little smaller.....

Telephone box for trunk calls?

Lovely Sussex house and garden.

Plenty of choice here.

West Lavington Garage, not currently trading.

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Isabels walk report:-

We set off from Iping Common car park and walked down the Iping road. We then headed through fields and woodlands, walking gradually uphill in the direction of St Cuthman's School. We stopped at the top of the hill for a coffee break and admired the views, although we were anxious about the black clouds rolling over the South Downs. We made our way fairly quickly down the hill towards Stedham and back to the car park, arriving at the cars just as the rain started! The walk was four and a half miles. --