Gallery

Farnham short walk on 15th March 2023

With the long walkers storming all the hills around Fernhurst, Kathryn and Geoff led those feeling a bit less energetic on a very pleasant stroll in Farnham. After parking near the cricket club in the shadow of Farnham Castle, we walked down to see the famous Blind Bishops steps, supposedly dating from the early part on the 16th C to help the then blind bishop find his way up to the Castle. The castle was originally built in 1138 and was a favoured residence for the Bishops of Winchester. We then walked back up the hill to take St Swithun's Way, the approximate route to take for Winchester. The area is an interesting mix of wood and farmland, with plenty of sheep to be seen. We had a welcome break at Lower Old Park before soon leaving St Swithun's Way and took a path south towards Dippenhall. After crossing Crondall Lane we climbed up through fields to find an excellent view over Farnham Town. Our route back to the town was a bit slippery in places but we all survived although our boots were much heavier than when we had originally started out! Passing the Alms Houses we entered the Nelsons Arms where we were well looked after and with some hilarious conversation concerning the perennial guessing/remembering game that anyone over 50 can enjoy. After lunch we regained the Castle grounds and climbed back up to our parked cars. The walk was around 5 miles.

Miguel did test the steps and the description is absolutely correct!

Checking every step

Walking back beyond the steps

St Swithin's Way

Coffee stop - and no bishops spotted en route

Climbing the hill to get the view of the town

It'll take some magic to get that Harry Potter horse cover clean again

Appaloosa horse - the breed is apparently prone to congenital stationary night blindness. Perhaps they just fall asleep?!

Dodging the hawthorn

It must be along here somewhere

Castle Street, with the Nelson Inn just beyond those Alms Houses

Just checking out the requirements to get a lodging

Ah - so let's walk on by, and quickly! (Definition of impotent -- 1. inability to take effective action; helplessness.)

Effective action now taken, so no problems getting our lunch.

This heads in the direction of Ceasars Camp, an Iron/Bronze Age fortification, once part of the Farnham Park Estate

Probably a little less than 5 miles

Funtington walk on 1st March 2023

The walk this week was led by Isabel, starting out from the car park of the Fox and Hounds. After a wander along a lane we found the footpath which took us up to to Funtington Down. On the way we passed by the Adsdean Estate. A chequered history of a grand house built around 1850, now partly demolished. It was let to Mountbatten early in the 20th C who constructed a nine hole golf course and a polo field. Parts were demolished in 1954 and in 1970 the building was split up into 5 separate residences.

Our route took us along the edge of the East Plantation and this first part of the walk was a long gradual ascent - luckily few realised this as most were busy being taught to sing in either Spanish or Polish. Luckily few natives of those countries were present to judge pronunciation. We eventually reached Hounsom Firs and the up hill work was done. We had seen some fine deer in the woods which seemed to be escorting us as we walked along. A walk down towards Kingley Vale was rewarded with a very pleasant coffee spot, including a nice seat and a mysterious pond. After our rest we continued downwards, this time puzzling why small clothing items seem to have been discarded. Skirting Kingley Vale we turned south-west to head generally towards Funtington and on our way, passed through an area called a Poultry Farm on the OS Map. However, we were not fooled as these chickens looked like, sounded like and smelt like pigs. For the pig by-product the farm does have an anaerobic digester producing electricity, 85% of which is sold back to the national grid. From here it was a short road walk back to the Fox and Hounds were we were very well looked after.

Unruly assembly

Welcoming new arrivals

Winter Honeysuckle

We’re in trouble, there’s only supposed to be one black sheep in the family and we have two

If you go down to the woods today…..

Don’t know what they have got to smile about

All the King’s men and ladies by Kingley Vale

Oh dear, dear, deer

Striding out for the coffee break

View across Downs Farm

Coffee break, what do mean you cannot see the Cathedral - it’s over there!

and that bump on the horizon is Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight!

All smiles for the downhill bit

Langley Vale to the left, pub to the right, let’s go right.

Lovely countryside but we’re going uphill again

The Fox and Hounds, a fine fare

Walderton Walk and Skittles on 22nd february 2023

February Extravaganza on 22nd February 2023

We decided to push the boat out and combine a walk, buffet, skittles competition and our annual raffle all in one day to finish mid-afternoon. After a bit of debate we went for it! The walkers assembled early in the car park of The Barley Mow, Walderton who helpfully opened up early especially for us, the heavens had unobligingly opened for us overnight and we caught the tail end of it. Jay and Lindsay led the short walk of 3 miles controlling the pace and timing to perfection. We headed east towards the centre of Walderton, the River Elm was higher than we have seen it before where we left the road starting the gentle climb across the fields. The driveway to Watergate and the main road were crossed with Watergate in view. A short rise at the base of Watergate Hanger took us into woods before crossing back to the north of Watergate when we stopped for our damp coffee break with misty views south towards Thorney Island and Hayling. Refreshed, we passed through and skirted the Woodbarn woods before picking up the Monarch Way at the edge of Inholmes Woods. Turning right, we crossed fields and made our way back to the hostelry bang on time.

Meanwhile, reinforcements had arrived to bolster the afternoon, deliver the raffle prizes and bring the wounded. The excellent Barley Mow buffet was consumed while the more competitive eyed up the skittle alley. Each player bowled three balls to knock down as many of the nine pins as possible with each ball. Techniques varied from the Barnes Wallis ‘bouncing bomb’, bowling the ball past the pins to bounce off the back wall, scooping it up right handed when it returned having selected a second ball in the left hand and then delivering both balls together. Luckily, nobody adopted an overarm technique. Our superior bowing skills were demonstrated by no single nine pin strike with one ball! Two rounds later the winner was declared with many joint second and third place winners confirmed how close the competition was. The finale was meant to be the annual raffle with fifteen prizes all a result of the generosity of the walking group members in donating and buying raffle tickets and Pauline and Tim’s hard work. The whole event went so quickly and with great humour that we had enough time left to have another skittles round where Sally won the pineapple prize.

Ready, willing and wet!

Regrouping to the north of Watergate, no break-in visible and Messrs Woodward and Bernstein declined to walk with us

Coffee break

Champing at the bit to get going?

On the pre walk you could see the sea; honestly

Spring is coming, at least in Walderton anyway

That looks an excellent ball!

"If I concentrate really hard, does it help?

That's a good 'un

Standing well back must have helped as this is the winner!

The raffle bounty, fabulous prizes donated by Midhurst Footpath Companions members, all raffled away in time for some more bowling

Doesn't look like a strike this time.

Very nearly!

Winner of the second round

Hooksway walk on 15th February 2023

We gathered on the grass car park admiring the diligence of the moles at the Royal Oak at Hooksway which allegedly dates from the 13th Century. The village at Hooksway was largely wiped out by the plague, with few buildings surviving, luckily for us, the pub was one of them.

John and Maureen guided us up the hill, skirting woodland, fields and grand houses up onto the South Downs. The sun was out with few clouds giving us great views of Pen Hill and Millpond Bottom while we admired the soaring Red Kites and songs of the Skylarks. We took our coffee break early to soak up the view. We followed the South Downs Way past Mount Sinai enjoying the views to the north feeling extremely pleased with ourselves that this countryside is so accessible.

In Philliswood Down we stopped to read the read the memorial to the German pilot Hauptmann Joseph Oestermann shot down during the Battle of Britain before leaving the South Downs Way at the edge of the wood and heading towards the site of the abandoned medieval settlement of Northolt alias Monkton where we turned west across the fields into Phillis Wood and back to the Royal Oak where Dave, the Landlord provided fine liquid refreshment and a royal repast.

The walk was only just over five miles of undulation that had a total climb of 737ft!

Ready for the start, bit nervous about how big the molehills are

View over to Buriton Hanger

Coffee stop with a view

South Downs Way, Beacon Hill to our left

Now, get ready to smile

The select few

A descent, thank goodness!

Walking down Pen Hill, admiring the view

The wonderful South Downs

There should be a path here, why isn't it signposted?

Catkins beckoning spring

Approaching Northolt alias Monkton

Leaving the remains of Northolt alias Monkton

Sheep on the Downs

There is a Cathedral down there somewhere, anyone see it?

Just follow me, I know where the pub is.

The final straight, we can sense the refreshments...

Royal Oak does us proud

Just over 5 miles

Graffham walk on the 8th February 2023

With Pauline indisposed, Linda was in charge of the walk from The White Horse in Graffham. The temperature was about freezing, plenty of mist around but the sun was trying all morning to reach us and it was a very pleasant walk indeed. We did a loop around to the north of Graffham before heading south to reach the parish church of St Giles. Some remnants of a 12th century church still exist but much of the church was rebuilt in 1875. The manor of Graffham was bought by Capt. the Rt. Hon. Euan Wallace, M.P, in 1935, then one of the richest MP's in the House of Commons. Three of his sons died on active service in WWII and their names appear on the Graffham war memorial. Another son - William Euan Wallace (Billy), was for some time an escort to Princess Margaret, having known her since childhood. Without loitering too long at the church we headed into the lower reaches of Graffham Down and turned east to reach the back of the excellent Seaford College. At this point we turned to walk through Seaford College before eventually going north to Parson's Copse and Upper Norwood. From there we took a track that led us back to Graffham and our eventual destination of the White Horse, where we had a very enjoyable lunch.