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Compton walk 31st May 2023

We parked in Compton and rallied in front of The Coach and Horses for our 4.5 mile meander through the countryside. The route took us by Compton Farm, across the field to the woods at East Hanger, enjoying the shade before reaching Bevis’s Thumb long barrow. Tim grew in stature as he regaled us with a colourful rendition of the tales of the giant Bevis and his large dog. We walked the road, dodging vehicles before turning off across fields at Apple Down in the direction of Up Marden. Our coffee break was at St Michael’s Church in Up Marden, a 13th century church with the remnants of 15th century wall paintings, the best being of St Christopher carrying baby Jesus. The boundaries of coincidence were stretched when one of our walkers met another resting walker who was an ex work colleague and the visitors book had homages to the J.L.Carr book, A Month in the Country. After the break we retraced steps down the hill, turned into more barley fields then turning into Grevitts Copse, across another field before the steep climb up to Locksash Farm where we spotted a Meercat and woman footballer, their movements were a bit wooden though. The path north gave rolling views of West Marden and Compton from East Hanger before we passed the school and made our way into the newly refurbished Coach and Horses for an excellent lunch.

And they’re off

Through barley field with South Downs behind

The tale of Giant Bevis and his big dog with a big tail

All the walkers in front of Bevis’s Thumb long barrow

Ewe, that hurt!

A barley seawave under a blue sky

Waist high in barley

A relaxed coffee stop St Michael’s,

Up Marden

Follow the green barley road

We’re smiling now because we can see the hill ahead

Climbing the hill, not so funny now.

Mr Orlov on lookout

Wooden players

Lunch at The Coach and Horses

About 4.1/2 miles

Duncton walk on 24th May 2023

Jennifer organised the 5.5 mile walk, corralling us at The Badgers Inn in Duncton, shepherding us up to the viewpoint over Fryan’s Hanger and then cat herding us to start the walk after admiring the view. We walked west through the woods at the edge of Woolavington Down overlooking Seaford College until we reached the Southdowns Way. Turning off the Way shortly down into the woodland of Tegleaze where we tried our hand at cutting a tree trunk across the path. The serious gardeners demonstrated the worth of their chosen implements to clear the way of intruding plant growth onto the paths. Our morning coffee break was a dispersed affair, each person seeking out their comfortable seat for the break. The return leg took us through woodland and fields at Waltham Down and the edge of Heath Hanger before more woodland at Crown Teglaze where we crossed the Southdowns Way again, by ancient burial mounds. We descended through Stickingspit Bottom past the working Chalk pit and back to the viewing point. There was an orderly scramble back to The Badgers Inn where a delicious lunch was consumed outside in the glorious sunshine.

The view over Fryan’s Hanger

Cat herding in action

Another view over Fryan's Hanger, but that's unfortunately not a ski lift.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to walk we go……

Look, it’s much better when you use a hand saw

Spring flowers

Lone cow on Woolavington Down

Striding purposefully

The joy of sunshine and the fresh greenery of spring

Revitalised after the coffee break

Walking amongst the chalk and flint in the fields

Great views

The cats, herded together on the South Downs Way

The route

Rogate walk on 17th May 2023

Seventeen walkers met on Wednesday morning at The Jolly Drovers pub in beautiful sunny weather. Isabel's group of six set off first, following the Sussex Border Path, which is 136 miles long and follows the Sussex border as it meets Hampshire, Surrey and Kent and finishes in Rye in East Sussex. We only managed a very short part of the path and turned just before reaching Durleighmarsh Farm, where there is a farm shop, a pick your own area and a very good cafe, but we were carrying our own refreshments, so carried on passing large fields growing asparagus, which is sold commercially and also in some of our local shops. We enjoyed the lovely views over the Downs and walked up the drive to Rogate Lodge, where we found a comfortable wall to have our coffee break. Suitably refreshed, we made our way uphill through the trees at the edge of Rogate Common, eventually crossing over a road to Tullecombe and then onto Combe Hill. We paused here to view the cycle runs, which go down really scary jumps. We decided it was not for us and made our way back to the Jolly Drovers for lunch, where we joined Tim's group.

Tim led the rest of the group, who enjoyed a more leisurely amble down the Sussex Border Path but took a short cut past Carrolls Lodge and onto Tipsall where we managed to find a few perches for a coffee stop. From there we headed north back to the pub past Rogate Common and Long Bottom. This walk was somewhat shorter at around 3.1/4 miles, whilst Isabel's group walked around 5.1/2. I think we all appreciated the beautiful trees, especially being grateful at times for the shade.

Long walkers have already departed, we're in no rush!

Deer spotted in the grounds of the De La Salle Brothers. History can be found on Wikipedia.

Some walkers are less unbalanced than others

The Sussex Border path has a few obstacles along the way

Durford Wood

Long walkers on the march on the Sussex Border path

"Well, that's a shame, no-one said we're wearing blue today"

Carrols, a beautifully sited house on the hill.

with a long. long view of the South Downs

Nice path, pity about the stile up ahead!

One stile conquered, only one more to go.

Refreshed, we're heading for the pub

"I don't care what's going on in the hedge, I'm not looking!"

Meanwhile, the long walkers were checking out the cattle

and in the Land of Asparagus, the pickers have missed this one

This could be a shot in the Himalayas or the Andes, but it's really the amazing bike jumps at Combe Hill

Jolly Drover at last, awaiting food.

Long route, about 5.1/2 miles

Hooksway walk on 10th May 2023

We gathered at the Royal Oak’s car park at Hooksway to egg each other on for the 4.8 miles of promised undulations with the threat of a significant ‘little hill’. The lung dilation started immediately on the first undulation as we left the car park through Phillis Wood. Part way up, we said a temporary goodbye to two walkers that wisely took a shortcut to save their bodies for future outings. On reaching the South Downs Way we continued on past the Devil’s Jumps and Monkton House where a peacock and pheasant announced their presence as off-key choristers. The Edwardian house was built to Edwin Lutyen’s design in 1902 but was not visible through the woodland. The route burst into the sunshine and open downland to reveal calves and their cows on one side and ewes and their lambs on the other as we headed towards Didling Hill where we turned off down towards Didling. John and Maureen’s guiding made sure we did not miss the path to descend to the Shepherd’s Church. Ash trees were being removed in this area due to Ash die back, the forester told us it would be five to six years for the virus to die off before they can replant the area with Ash. Our coffee stop was at the 13th Century Church overlooked by lambs and the ancient Yew tree that had survived an erroneous attempt to chop it down in 1945. Once refreshments including a bountiful supply of Canadian maple biscuits had been consumed, we headed towards Treyford at which point John took us up the ‘little hill’, definitely not an undulation! Then back up to the South Downs Way passing a spectacular wooded carpet of wild garlic. As we walked alongside Germanleith Copse there were bluebells and deer to admire before we were back at the Royal Oak, where drinks and lunch hit the spot for us all.

Girding our loins for the undulations

Climbing up through Philliswood Down

South Downs Way near Monkton House

Bursting out into the sunshine and open Downs

Calves on the prowl

Didling Hill, accelerating for coffee

The coffee break

The Shepherd’s Church

I’m telling you, you really want to go that way

The calm before the garlic

No need to worry about vampires in here

Getting our breath back – good excuse for a summit photo opportunity

Bluebells and a pheasant feeder

Early Spotted Orchids were also seen

At last, back to The Royal Oak

And food is on the way!

The route

Kirdford walk on 3rd May 2023

We had a beautiful sunny day for our walk led by Sally. Starting at the Foresters Arms in Kirdford recently closed for renovations but they let us park there. The start of the walk led us through the oldest part of Kirdford where on the junction is the Church of St John the Baptist built around 1100 AD with its great tower and vast indoor space shows the importance of this village in medieval times. Opposite the Church is the popular Half Moon pub owned by Jodie Kidd but not open on a Wednesday for our walk. The new ‘bareback’ pub sign for the Pub Renaissance campaign was unfortunately not visible from our vantage point as it would have destroyed our concentration for the plaque in the centre of the village showing the village story. Taking a left at the T junction we passed the Old Rectory with “its ode to the virtue of staying sober”. At this point we felt obliged to model some of the benefits of drunkenness for the camera. Leaving the village behind us we turned left at Normandie Stud and through its yard with very smart stable buildings and dogs with short legs, then into the woodland of Boxalland Copse, an ancient site of iron mining. The woods were carpeted with bluebells. Continuing down to muddy Boxall Brook and over the bridge and up into pastureland and then into the dense woodland of Barkfold Rough. The path rises to Chandlers Barn and into the open with fine views of Blackdown where they had conveniently placed a bench ideal for an early cup of coffee. Walking along the edges of fields filled with oil seed rape and the historic Fountains Farm screened by high hedges we start our descent back over the mud of Boxall Brook. A challenge presented itself. A very muddy section running along a farmer’s field with sheep in it, half the walk went for it and at the other half agreed for Tim to negotiate with the farmer to allow us to walk on his land which luckily he did. On the home straight passing Lakelands Farm and over Great Common skirting the mud and back into the village past a new development of houses. To our right was the village stores with more history and information about the flora and fauna. Back to collect our cars and 2 miles to The Stag Inn at Balls Cross for a delicious lunch by Phil and his team.