Gallery

Duncton Walk on 12th April 2023

We gathered at The Cricketers in Dunction for the 5.3mile walk led by Jay and Lindsay. Entering Burton Park through the Grade II listed gateway past the magnificent building dating from 1875 which is the current construction following a long history of other buildings, fires and developments, now being residences but having been requestioned by the army in WWII, a girls boarding school and police dog training centre. The parkland originates from the 13th century and was landscaped in the 18th and 19th century. We skirted Burton Church (Grade I listed tiny Norman) before stopping to admire the largest sweet chestnut tree we had ever seen.

A group photo opportunity was taken at the Burton Mill Pond weir enjoying the bracing wind followed by a stroll through The Moor and The Warren woodland down to Sutton where a coffee break was enjoyed in the sun at St John Baptist’s church. Kathryn’s birthday chocolates went down a treat. Suitably victualled we headed north west over fields and a stream to Barlavington, past St Mary’s Church (end of 12th Century), across more fields to Duncton Mill and the Trout farm. We made our way back to The Cricketers where we revelled in our excellent lunch choices.

Ready to go, astonished at the sunshine after the earlier rain

I really should check I have matching footwear before I leave home

Burton Park

This is a bargain property, you can trust us to do you a great deal!

Tiny, Norman Burton Church

Giant Sweet Chestnut Tree

Team photo at the Mill Pond

Leading from the front

Of course if you will wear the wrong footwear!

The coffee break

You’d better be quick, not sure it’ll hold up much longer

Pond with island and algae

St Mary’s Church, Barlavington with the two arcade bay blocked off

Oh dear what are they over there?

Deer, dear, and a pheasant

The rain came at the Trout Farm

The welcome lunch

Beacon Hill walk on 5th April 2023

With the generous help of Beacon Hill Football Club, we found ourselves at the start of our walk. After a wander through some backroads in Beacon Hill we eventually turned down into the Golden Valley. Despite the steep path and slightly alternative route, we were successful in finding ourselves at one of the lowest points in the valley accessible to the public, with a fence guarding a large house further down the valley. Turning back we took the slow path up the valley to eventually reach the main Hindhead to Farnham road. From there we wandered up to the viewpoint at the Devils Punch Bowl.

There are many stories about how the Devil's Punch Bowl got its name - an argument with Thor or even the Devil wishing to flood the area as too many churches were being built. However on good authority it can be revealed that the Devil stole a cauldron from a witch near Waverley Abbey. She chased after him, he leapt from hill to hill (the Devils Jumps near Churt) and the Devil eventually went to earth, creating the Devils Punch Bowl. By way of proof, the cauldron can still be seen in Frensham Church....... perhaps a future walk may go that way?

After a drinks stop in the area of the Punch Bowl Cafe, we headed north along the edge of the Punch Bowl. 0ur route diverted down a little used path to Gravel Hanger, below Marchants Hill. It is a good path, little used, surrounded by trees on small hills either side. However, what goes down must go up so we had a long ascent which needed a few pauses to recuperate before we reached the top. The path then went alongside grounds of the PGL activity centre - who seem to specialize in adventure holidays for 8 to 16 year olds. Abseil towers, zip wires, giant swings are all part of the menu and despite young popular opinion PGL does not stand for Parents Get Lost, but are the initials of the founder, Peter Gordon Lawrence, who started it all in the 1950's. A short way up the road we were re-united with our cars and then took the journey to the Fox and Pelican in Grayshott, where we had an excellent lunch.

The pre-walk team talk and huddle

Upright citizens, but the trees weren't

You're going the wrong way, no you really are, don't you believe me?

Striding towards the coffee break, pity someone spilt theirs earlier

The coffee break

Sharing my coffee may persuade you to let me join, but I won't let on I just wanted a lighter rucksack for the rest of the walk

The nonchalant leader and his flock

Nessum Dorma OK, I'll conduct, you sing, on the count of three.....

A good gardener is always equipped for that last minute pruning

We will not all fit in there for lunch.

Getting our breath back half way up the final ascent

The summit team, Sherpa Tenzing, eat your heart out!

Originally built as a temperance house. One shareholder was a certain George Bernard Shaw who lived just up the road

Luckily the temperance tradition had been changed and it is now owned by Fullers, a well known purveyor of refreshing drinks....

About 4 miles

Stedham Walk on 29th March 2023

The rain from previous days and the morning of the walk promised lots of puddles and mud. Celia and Miguel’s 5.1 mile walk did not disappoint!

We met at The Hamilton Arms in Stedham, welcomed a new walker to the group, donned the wet weather gear just in time for the drizzle to stop. We crossed the green in front of the pub and the main Petersfield road, ducked and dived around the foliage and cars before heading south onto Stedham Common. Minsted Road was crossed leading to the old A272 Woolmer bridge when we headed south again above the full stream into The Severals. Various techniques were used to avoid the mud although Miguel in his all-terrain wellies generally took the direct route. The gorse was in flower and the contrast of dried bracken and pine trees made a picturesque backdrop. Crossing Severals Road brought us back onto The Serpent Trail through pine woods down to cross the Petersfield Road across the field, down the gulley to Woolbeding Bridge on The New Lipchis Way. The bridge is a scheduled monument and a good example of a medieval multi-span bridge, which is largely unaltered, except for the frequent repairs resulting from drivers attempting personal redesigns of both bridge and their vehicles. The New Lipchis Way took us over a field with an oak tree that alone retained its winter leaves to follow the River Rother in full flow. We admired the views of Stedham Mill, Hall and Bridge as we passed. This bridge has a Grade II listing and although the Hall has 16th and 17th Century origins, most of it is hidden behind work in 1845 and later all absorbed into the Neo-Elizabethan rebuild completed in 1915. The knowledgeable gardeners enjoyed the early spring flowers as we made our way back to the Hamilton Arms for a Thai lunch.

Donning the wet weather gear for the off

Leading the way

Each to their own path

The gorse in flower

Bracken and Pine - sounds like an Estate Agent

Of course I'm at the back, I lost a leg somewhere.

You'll take the high road and I'll take the low.... but don't fancy my chances much.

On dry land at last

I got up early just to bake these shortbreads for our coffee stop

Ahhh, the zen of coffee break and shortbread

Mud and puddles will not deter us.

River Rother in full flow

River Rother and the dawn of spring

Err, what are these?

Parsnip and carrot early blooms at The Hamilton Arms

About 5.1 miles

Stoughton walk on 22nd March 2023

The concept was a gentle 4.5 mile stroll through some woodland including Kingley Vale Nature Reserve, soak up the sun, scenery and great views. Best laid plans and all that…..

The rain flooded local roads that would have made Noah accelerate his carpentry project, so we started one walker down who left their amphibious vehicle at home and had to turn back.The Midhurst High Street closure due to the fire meant diverse routes to get to the car park but ten of us made it. Donning waterproofs, ponchos, umbrellas, gaiters and the like, we were finally ready.

We walked on the gravel path on the edge of Kingley Nature Reserve, taking the left fork, engaged low gear and slipped and slid our way to The Plantation when the path dried out a bit. Up the gentle slope with trees on both sides hanging on by their roots before turning right through the gorse and past Blackbush House. A tractor caught our attention before re-entering Kingley Vale where our mud skating skills were demonstrated by all.

The coffee stop beside the ancient earthworks, overlooking the dew pond with mist obscuring the great views of West Dean and the Trundle was welcomed by all. We got going again down to Bow Hill to turn and head north to develop our mud skiing skills crossing the Monarch Way and through woodland with moss covered furrows back to the car park. Lunch was enjoyed by everyone at the Hare and Hounds at Stoughton.

Great conversation, even the trees leant in

You put your left leg in ....... and it gets covered in mud

Trees to the right of them

Trees to the left of them

..........

Boldly they slipped and well

..........

Walked the ten

Hanging on by their roots

Bloody yew trees

Chelsea Tractor, eat your heart out

So when is the coffee break ?

The Olympic mud skating team

I didn’t believe Ents existed, now I am not sure. ‘Hrum now’

Coffee break

Look....the view of West Dean and the Trundle never looked so good

A break from mud skiing, and still chuckling at Jay’s woodland tale

The descent, all still upright

Some even tried tandem sliding

....and the views were breath-taking

Dedicated photographers will bend over backwards to get the shot

The Magnificent seven

At last, the Hare and Hounds

Fernhurst long walk 15th March 2023

The small group met at Fernhurst, we walked west across the green and crossroads over the stream then headed north east for a short distance before turning west across the fields. We walked past Greenhill House into Oakreeds Wood, skirted round Green Hill, past the pond at the edge of Greenhill Wood, then north east through the woods. We encountered forestry works with an innovative youth experience policy where the chance to toast marshmallows and barbeque was missed. We continued through woodland to our coffee break.

The route took us onto the southern end of Marley Common and Kingsley Green before going south towards Marley Heights, on to Kingsley Copse back to Fernhurst and the Red Lion Pub for a welcome lunch. In the afternoon we head south on the road, eventually turning right across fields, past ponds, through woods and along the Verdley Place boundary where we turned west then south west, walking on the edge of Dawes Highfield Copse and into Guildford Copse. We crossed the road to Henley into Henley Copse past the industrial estate when collection of discarded waste started. We crossed the Midhurst Road, turned off through woodland, over fields, passed through Whitter’s Copse up to Hawkfold. Some of the paths had been widened and temporary track covering put down to assist the new power cabling project in the area. There were lots of big toys to admire! We made it back to Fernhurst. The walk was just over 10 miles.