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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.

All fresh, raring to go with support for Ukraine in the background

Let’s combine water divining, stiles and a skip

Spring is on its way

Nature’s tunnel in Greenhill Wood

Enjoying the pond above the remains of the Augustine Priory

What you mean you thought I packed the marshmallows?

A pair of woodland fairies

Coffee break at last

Closely followed by lunch and welcome imbibition

Afternoon team pose

I want to fly this kite

Lots of lambs

Don't think much of this bridge

I’m not a bag lady, it’s all rubbish we have picked up, honestly

I don’t think Pooh sticks will work here

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.