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Shackleford Walk on 22nd November 2023

With a glorious sunrise for the early risers, things could only go downhill for the walk start. Tim and Jane's walk started from the Old Cyder House in Shackleford, but the pub car park had a chain across it, which made parking difficult. However we eventually found spots to squeeze into and we set off for the walk. Opposite the pub are the splendid grounds of Aldro School, for day pupils and boarders. It originated in Eastbourne in 1877 but moved to Shackleford in 1940, felt to be a safer spot at the time. Crossing some fields we passed Lydling Farm before we had to tackle the water hazard. Fortunately not too bad on the day, we all managed to cross this River Wey tributary without getting wet feet. After a special exercise walking up steep steps and back down again, we found the right path to take us to the magnificent Rodsall Manor, purchased for £2M in 2000. Since then it has been the correspondence address for a number of Investment Companies and Banks. From there we walked towards Cuttmill Ponds and stopped for a coffee stop in the woods, just before some houses. One of these had some beautiful ironwork gates, designed by the owner, who also is a world-renowned car designer. Cuttmill pond was just around the corner, with plenty of life both above and below the surface, including a solitary heron. From there we headed for the village of Gatwick (not that one....) and then into Mitchen Hall Woods to eventually get back for lunch at The Cyder House. Luckily there was no chain across the entrance this time. The walk was a bit less than 5 miles.

Benbow pond walk on 15th November 2023

We answered Isabel’s call to a local 4 mile walk from Benbow Pond to make the most of the limited sunshine this week. The ducks swam and quacked while we assembled in our walking attire and headed north to pick up a short section of the Sussex Diamond Way past Steward’s Pond and up a little valley where the yellow and copper leaves on the trees were lit up by the sun. Crossing the golf course in a shallow hollow we could not resist the temptation to ring the warning bell to let the golfing fraternity know we were there. We crossed The Race onto Easebourne Street walking uphill to Lower Vining, stopping for a standing coffee break in the sunshine. The climb continued up to Vining Common where we turned for the downhill return, skirting around Heathend Copse and the permissive path to New Barn with a view to the Elizabeth Oak Tree on our right and back to our start. We went back to Midhurst to enjoy our lunch at Red H on North Street.

Liphook walk on 8th November 2023

Kathryn and Geoff Noah did not know what they let themselves in for when they volunteered to lead this walk. The rain fell in biblical proportions and we were concerned as to which of the skills our leaders were going to exhibit that were previously demonstrated by a certain bearded gentlemen whose connections forced the waters to part, but whose map reading skills were a bit suspect leading to a 40 year detour, but eventually led his followers to the promised land. We need not have worried as their lateral thinking took us away from most of the floods, their map reading was spot on and they lead us to two welcome and timely destinations. Having rowed into the car park of the Deer Hut pub in Liphook, donned our lifejackets and assorted and hopefully weatherproof gear, we set off on the pavement down Longmoor Road to Liphook. Having discovered the rain was proving more than a match for some weather gear we took a recuperative stop under cover at the café Number One The Square. Availing ourselves of a variety of Tea Cakes, Victoria Sponges and assorted hot beverages we took as much time as we thought we could get away with before heading off down the old A3 until we reached the Links Tavern where we started on the Shipwrights Way, which felt entirely appropriate. The Shipwrights Way proved to be plain sailing straight back to the Deer Hut pub where we were treated to an excellent lunch together with four members who were much wiser and opted for the lunch only.

Look, the first promised land

Taking the chance to dry out

All that rain has shrunk him, is he hiding under his hat?

Trying to warm up

Let’s skirt around this

Let's skirt around this

I think we have to go through this mudbath

Our leaders keeping us shipshape on the Shipwrights Way

She always liked being with a fungi

Never miss the opportunity for some gardening training

Now that’s what I call a puddle

We are under a tree and still getting wet.

If we’d brought our wetsuits we could have gone wild swimming!

A dry section of the walk through the autumn leaves

Good job they did not use this one for a ships mast!

Lost and damp

But looking glorious in autumn colours

I’m cold, and my wool jumper is soaked.

Enjoying our dinner at the Deers Hut, but nobody had venison.

About 3.1/2 miles.

Lord's Piece walk on 1st November 2023

Sally's walk started out from the Lord's Piece car park. There had been heavy rain overnight but with the words of Dr Michael Mosley in our heads on why we should embrace the rain, we set off over the heathland heading in the direction of Bignor Park. Lord’s Piece is well known for having reintroduced field crickets to boost the near extinct population - we will have to wait for the summer to hear them.

Early on in our walk we came across a large carved piece of oak. Created by the artist Jon Edgar between July 2021 and completed in 2023, the wood came from a centuries old piece of tree from the Barlavington Estate. Crossing the road we walked along woodland paths luckily giving us shelter from the showers unaware that we were heading towards Bignor Mill and not the house - somewhere a left turn had been missed! No problem our technical team located a new route to get to our coffee stop at the bus shelter in Sutton by continuing along our path and onto the road leading up to Sutton. Missing the House and the Roman Villa and the village of Bignor was disappointing, but there’s another walk there for another time! Perfectly placed bus shelter for our coffee break opposite the smart White Horse Inn refreshed us before our return lap back to the Car Park. Taking a right down School Lane we headed along muddy paths and over rustic bridges with plenty of water flowing to a pedestrian gate where we encountered deep water. Unable to cross the streams either side because of barbed wire, the adventurous amongst us went into overdrive problem solving mode. Broken branches from trees were thrown/placed either side of the gate in the water and with the swinging gate we all rose to the occasion and reached firmer ground on the other side. Over the field and an easy stile onto a lane and then back into the shelter of the woodland track we arrived back at the road and an entrance gate to Lords Piece for a quick ascent up to the Car Park. Onto The Badgers pub where we had a delicious lunch with great service and were joined by a few of the short walkers. A very enjoyable 4.6 miles created and led by Sally.

Just a small puddle in the car park....

Look, blue sky up above

Lord's Piece common - is that a cloud over there?

Striding along, not a care in the world

Some very skillful chainsaw and chisel work on display

Some paths were better than others

Sadly our litter-picker was not with us.

Best coffee spot ever!

Autumn colours at Cedar Cottage

Wonder where all that water is going?

Ignoring this helpful signpost, we carried on.

Ah so that's where all the water was heading

With the help of 6 logs and some dainty footwork, we all survived.

Enormous Parasol mushroom spotted in a wood, delicious fried with breadcrumbs

Delightful to see some other members already in The Badger

Cheers!

About 4.6 miles

Rogate walk on 25th October 2023

The 5 mile walk lead by Pauline and Linda, supported by locals started in the car park of the recently reopened White Horse with one of the largest turn outs of the year and we supplemented our numbers as we passed the front door of a couple of members. There had been torrential rain overnight leading to lots of puddles and mud but it stayed mostly dry for our walk. We took it gently down the main road heading towards Fyning with the traffic slowing down to avoid splashing us. The gentle ascent started on Fyning Lane continuing onto the footpath across wet fields to Terwick, crossing the lane again and across Fyning Common, turning right onto a busy backroad. A bridle path took us up to Rondle Wood, sliding down hill on the mud and wading through the standing water onto the Serpentine Trail where we had our coffee break before reaching Borden. Crossing Gatehouse Lane, we picked up speed downhill on Cumber’s Lane stopping to admire the polo ponies and alpacas. The current A272 was crossed to get onto the old A272 towards St Peter’s church where we trod carefully on the slippery and boggy fields. We made it back to the main road where some walkers went for a pose in a pumpkin field. Our lunch was at The White Horse in Rogate where the Fish and Chips received a special mention as everyone enjoyed them.