Gallery

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Hooksway walk on 12th February 2024

John led the 4.3 mile walk from The Royal Oak, Hooksway.  The numbers were a little depleted because of injuries and illness but there were still fourteen of us to brave the cold and misty day.  We got the uphill part of the walk over in the first half heading up through Phillis Wood and across fields towards Monkton Farm and the site of the abandoned medieval village and Scheduled Monument of West Monkton.  The site has been cleared of scrub and mixed trees by West Dean under guidance from Historic England and Natural England which gave us our first opportunity to see the ruins despite passing the site on walks in previous years.  Walking up the valley we joined the South Downs Way at the edge of Philliswood Down where we encountered our first significant puddles and mud baths.  On Treyford Hill we stopped at the memorial of Luftwaffe pilot Hauptmann Joseph Oestermann 1915 – 1940 shortly before our coffee stop where the woods to our north gave way to a field.  Staying on the South Downs Way until reaching Elsted Hanger where rather than ascending Pen Hill, we turned south descending from the Downs into Germanleith Copse before reaching the pub car park.  Dave and Sarah at the 16^th Century building that is The Royal Oak made us welcome, and fed and watered us in style.  The photo of Alfie and his wife who were a previous landlord brought back some memories and stories of rural pub life long passed.

If you want to know who Alfie was, have a read here:-  Hooksway History

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Rogate walk on 5th February 2025

Isabel led our walk of just over 4 miles having pre walked it and modified it a number of times due to the mud.  Setting off from The Jolly Drover at Hill Brow near Liss we crossed the road onto Rogate Common walking through the woodland to Commonside where we saw a Robin and a squirrel diving under the eaves of an outhouse.  Isabel had seen deer here on the pre walk, but we made too much noise and must have scared them away.  The path across the field with the remains of corn stalks was clear and firm under foot with a surprise of snowdrops as we made our way onto the local roads and up towards Rogate Lodge where we stopped for our coffee break taking the benefit of low walls to sit.  We made our way back into the woods of Rogate Common climbing slowly, crossed the Hill Brow to Borden road, back into the woods dropping down the hill to Tullecombe where we picked up the Serpent Trail, following the slope of Combe Hill marvelling at the insane twists, drops and jumps for the mountain bike courses that crossed our path.  We made our way back to The Jolly Drover where our lunch was excellent.

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Chichester walk on 29th January 2025

With very wet weather forecast later in the morning, Pauline and Linda wisely chose to limit our walk and to be within safe shelter should the need arise. In fact the rain was very late and umbrellas were redundant. We started from the Cattle market car park and headed to a spot next to the old Shiphams Paste building. From this point the Romans built an almost straight road called Stane Street all the way to London Bridge. Luckily London Bridge was not on our agenda so we went along the city walls to find the old Gunpowder Store. Beyond this point is Priory Park, home to a Franciscan Chancel, now the Guildhall. Also in this park is a huge mound of earth, now protected by some chestnut fencing. Originally it was far larger and higher and surmounted by a castle built by the Normans to demonstrate to the conquered English that they had lost the Battle of Hastings. The walk along the tops of the  walls was interrupted at Northgate by North Street, however we soon gained our privileged position  as we travelled West along the wall tops. Once we reached Westgate roundabout we headed for the magnificent Chichester Cathedral and our coffee stop.  Suitably refreshed we had a look at the Bishop's Palace Gardens and even in mid winter there were some blooms to admire. We left the walled city to travel through the streets of modern Chichester to once again find the car park, change shoes and head to the Nags Head for an excellent lunch.

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West Lavington walk on 22nd January 2025

Jo and Mark’s misty 4.8 mile walk started at The Greyhound on Chichester Road, crossing into Cocking Causeway and up Dunford Hollow.  A brief stop at the Richard Cobden Memorial Obelisk reminded us of the local lad that became a successful businessman and prominent politician whose work contributed to the repeal of the Corn Laws amongst other successes.  We crossed the clear running Coster’s Brook and Dunford House that Richard Cobden finished rebuilding in 1853 with activities looking like it is undergoing more building work today.  Following the Serpent Trail onto Heyshott Common, we left the official Trail at the old railway bridge over the disused Midhurst to Pulborough railway line where we stopped for our coffee break and the celebration of three birthdays with a tuneful happy birthday rendition.  We then walked through the plantation on Todham Rough to come out onto Stedham Road, which we stayed on towards West Lavington before peeling off to Oaklands Lane, past The Royal Oak and back to The Greyhound for our well-deserved lunch and refreshments.

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Midhurst walk 15th January 2025

Ten of us met up at the North Car Park in Midhurst for our 5.25 mile walk attempting to avoid deep puddles and mud.  The cold and overcast skies did not dampen our spirits walking down The Causeway towards Cowdray Ruins, crossing the Rother and heading up towards The Cowdray Café.  Turning off the unmade road before we could break off for refreshments and staying on The Sussex Diamond Way we crossed fields and the main road to take the permissive path through the woods beside the golf course staying parallel to the road.  Crossing back over the main road we walked down the driveway to Moor Farm, turned left onto the track up to Ambersham Bridge where we stopped for our coffee break.  Having warmed our innards, we crossed The Rother and took the footpath across the flood meadow which was squelchy but firm enough until we gained higher ground on the raised bank.  Crossing the field with sheep was made more entertaining by having to step over the electric fence across the footpath, and spilled out onto Selham Road heading to the entrance for Cowdray House.  At the corner we carried on up the hill to Kennels Dairy that now houses the Cowdray Works Department arriving at the end of The Wharf where we followed the bank of The Rother back to The Causeway and a change of footwear.  An enjoyable lunch was had at Fratelli’s on West Street to finish off.

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