Gallery

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.

A cold and misty morning deserves a good woolly hat

As woolly hats go, this takes some beating!

Don't look now but those goats are bare-headed!

There are at least 8 types of long-eared goats -here's a sample

Shepherd probably still fast asleep inside

Yesterday's spider's web still clinging on.

No mud on this walk

St Giles, Graffham

Still frosty

The lower edge of Graffham Down

The sun's out, time for a break

Seaford College is looking busy.

Seaford College, through the mist

A herd of wild deer, wondering which way to run

Long rows of hedges as described have been planted, but not all these plants are edible!

Splendid display of snowdrops in the village

Three sons of Euan Wallace MP on Graffham war memorial

At this junction, the walkers ignored the signpost and headed for the pub!

Just a little over 6 miles

Halfway Bridge walk on 1st February 2023

The too two walk started at the Grade II listed Halfway Bridge Inn near Lodsworth walking on the original A272 and halfway bridge we turned north and scaled the two stiles to get them out of the way early on. We climbed gently through River Wood admiring the Rother below us before a short section of road through River gave us access to steps up to a field with great views to the north of Bexley Hill and Black Down. We joined the Sussex Diamond Trail to Pitshill where we opted for an early coffee break while admiring the gardens and shallow combe. Pitshill was built in the 1790s by William Mitford and refurbished within the last decade. Refreshed, we headed south on backroads past Broughton Dairy Farm intrigued by the wigwam and decidedly cowboy themed scenery. Crossing the A272 Miguel spotted the two horses heads to win the competition set for the walk. At Southdean Farm we went down a gully that needed some care to stay upright after which the leaning and missing section of board walk across the flood meadow was dispatched with the skill and aplomb expected of the seasoned walkers we are. The banks of the River Rother for the second river scene guided us west towards Selham where we headed north on the road to finish too much road on the walk back to the The Halfway Bridge Inn where we enjoyed our lunch immensely.

That’s the two stiles dispatched, let’s go

Bexley Hill, clear blue skies, what’s not to like?

Line abreast while John starts his pole dancing routine

The first carpet of snowdrops this year

Leaving Pitshill all fed and watered

Yeeha, Cut 'em out, ride 'em in, Rawhide

Walking the planks

Doing the water meadow waltz

Spot the alligator

River Rother

Errr, we think we’ve lost two walkers

They’re not biting

Locals lunch

Rogate walk on 25th January 2023

John and Barbara had a poor day to lead their walk, with cold and icy conditions combined with fog. In spite of the conditions we all had a very enjoyable walk and also welcomed a guest walker, Beverly from Midhurst. Starting out from the Rogate Village Hall car park, we headed north to Fyning Common before crossing the road to Fyning Hill. The walk along Rondle Wood usually produces glimpses of fine views over towards Milland but we could only see the field below! A hunt then began for a suitable coffee stop, but no benches were available so we rested on some fallen trees and branches. At Borden Cross crossroads we turned down Cumber's Lane, finding some early snowdrops at the bottom, to be followed by more early blooms outside the Church in Terwick. Crossing fields we reached Fyning and from there we were soon back in our cars after about 4 miles. We then had lunch at the Sky Park Farm where we had the pleasure of meeting up with some other Footpath Companions. It was quite busy and we had some concern our large group would cause a problem but the staff managed to serve some very nice food in a very efficient manner.

Leaving Rogate village

Good job someone knows the way!

Esteemed walk leaders

"Look, just over there are the South Downs - no sign of the Spinnaker Tower at the moment!"

Fyning Wood

Did the barber run out of time?

Choccy time.

Cumber's Lane

Alpacas next to Cumber's Lane

Early snowdrops hiding in the hedge

Brief spell on what used to be the A272

More flowers near the church

St Peter's Church, 12th Century.

Plenty of ice still in the fields

Sad Pumpkins well past their sell-by date.

Sky Park Farm deer

Happy walkers needing feeding

Lurgashall walk on 18th January 2023

The 5.3 mile walk was led by Sally with expert pre walk preparation from Lurgashall. The name Lurgashall means Hall of Leotegar. Leotegar was a Saxon who settled on the site in around 495 AD. His descendants built St Laurence’s Church, which is beside where we started the walk. There had been a heavy frost during the night with all walkers prepared for some good scenery and the odd bit of impromptu skating. Starting at The Noah’s Ark Inn, which is said to have acquired its unusual name because patrons crossing the pond outside the door gave the impression of animals crossing into the Ark. The pond is long gone so we walked on terra firma across the green, past the village shop and down Mill Lane when we took a short cut across some meadows. This meadow was the site of our first synchronised slips, but both participants bravely returned to the fray. Returning to Mill Lane, a right turn took us to Mill Pond where we were impressed by the ducks swimming around the ice, and a natural ice stalactite sculpture. At Mill Farm we crossed fields towards Lickfold but turned north west before we got there so we could see if The Three Horse Shoes (aka The Lickfold Inn) would tempt us to stop. It was too early to succumb so we skated across the ice on the road on Lickfold Road. A left turn took us east across fields, woods and across a stream eventually arriving at Hoewyck Farm and onto the Lickfold Road again where Kathryn demonstrated her Dancing on Ice moves with a terrific recovery. We stopped for a coffee break at a thoughtfully placed bench and table on Upperfold Farm where the generous owner had given Sally her permission to stop there. After coffee we headed north east across meadows, through woods, across streams to the edge of The Blackdown Estate down to Jobsons Lane by the site of what had been the Lurgashall Winery. We stopped and talked with a local tree surgeon and wood sculptor who was sculpting a family crest by eye out of an old ash tree stump. Heading west across Windfallwood Common we turned south through Spring Coppice to view the spire of St Laurence’s Church and into The Noah’s Ark for a well earned and delicious lunch and banter.