Gallery

Elsted walk on 24th August 2022

After one Wednesday walk cancelled because of the extreme heat, the next one because of the extreme rain. we were at last on our feet, guided by Celia and Miguel around the Elsted village area. With plenty of animal life to see, conditions stayed good for the walk, although somewhat humid, so a return to the Three Horseshoes for re-hydration was much appreciated. The walk was about 4 miles and NO stiles!

Ready to walk

Heading for the South Downs

Nice field of cabbages

Aha - so that's how those cabbages get into the supermarket

Stylish trio?

Carefully does it

Nursery field for the cattle

Big time nursery for birds

Pheasants, hoping to make it past the 1st February 2023!

Looking sheepish

"Just checking my phone"

"Now, where did I put my other stick......?"

To move 40 sheep, all you need is a dog

Drink stop and a sit down

Mill House, getting closer to the pub!

Ah, that's better.

Long drink desperately needed!

Cockerel kept chasing the waitress

Thanks for the walk, leaders!

Woolbeding Garden visit 4th August 2022

Bernard and Celina had organized this outing to the Gardens we often walk by, but don't necessarily spend any time inside. After catching the NT mini bus transport from The Grange Car Park we spent several hours exploring these Gardens, open only on Thursdays and Fridays for the next two months before closing for the winter.

"the greenest valley with the prettiest river in the world" Benjamin Disraeli PM 1868 & 1874-80.

Now, where shall we go??

Sculpture by William Pye whose works with water are worldwide

Formal garden area

In the original greenhouse.

The new glasshouse

The "ruined" abbey, actually built about 20 years ago

Hermits Hut

Approaching the Gothic Summer House

Gothic Summer House

No time to rest inside

View from the Summer House

We had a River God to find

Hornbeam tree tunnel

Inside the Beam Pump House, once used to pump Rother water up to the house

Summer House in the Terrace Garden.

Iping walk on 3rd August 2022

We met up outside Iping Marsh Graveyard, Catherine and Andy then leading us and guest walker Janette up the Serpent Trail to Titty Hill. From there we headed South towards Oakham Common and Iping, after passing through the Iping Cross Country Course. No-one was foolish enough to attempt a jump so we arrived safely at Iping Church for our drinks break. The church has been rebuilt several times, the last time being in 1885, but there are many older residents in the church yard. After refreshments we passed through a field of asparagus and eventually found the path to take us through the grounds of the Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. Accommodation, food and teaching are offered for free, but the minimum period for a woman staying there is a month, if she's not been there before. Strangely the minimum period for a man is 3 nights. We tried very hard to be respectfully quiet for the following 1/2 mile, before we found Moorhouse Lane and back to our start point. We then moved on to the Jolly Drover where we were very well looked after.

Luckily that lorry was actually reversing!

Heading for Titty Hill

Deep gully as we approached Oakham Common

Oakham Common

One too many paths to choose from.

Iping Cross Country Course

Drinks break

Asparagus field

Descending Hammer Lane

Entrance to Chithurst Monastery

Hammer Pond

Hammer Pond, a reminder of the iron industry that once pervaded all of the South East.

So what it that over there?

Buddha keeping an eye on us

Hammer Wood

Definitely not catkins

Approaching Robin's Farm

Happy diners at the Jolly Drover

About 5 miles

Birdham Morning and Day walks 27th July 2022

Marian and Linda's walk proved very popular and a large group took a wander around the north edge of the marina before cutting back to order our lunch in The Boat House Cafe. We then walked along Birdham Pool before turning down Broomers Lane to find our drinks break stop in Birdham Churchyard. Weather was sunny, so shady spots were at a premium! Heading west we skirted Westlands before finding the Chichester Channel once again, following The New Lipchis Way to look at the boats in Birdham Pool. After crossing the causeway we took Lock Lane to eventually find Egremont Swing Bridge and over to the main Marina and our lunch spot. They looked after us very well, even though we were earlier than our booking. By the time we reached ours cars once again we had walked 4 miles. After lunch a small group headed in the opposite direction towards Dell Quay which added a further 5 or 6 miles.

Mustering

Taking the path around the north of the marina

Time for a group portrait

Hiya!

Mummy swan showing cygnets how difficult some people find it to float on water

Shady drinks spot at Birdham Church

A thorn ?

This ancient tree, Cupressus sempervirens was rumoured to have been brought back from the crusades in the early middle ages, however there are more probable explanations.

Path at the back of Westlands

He can build a nice boat, but he can't spell

Plenty of bass in the harbour, sizes vary

This must be the size of the bass fishing boat

Chichester Ship Canal coot

Great lunch

Famous Five go on an Adventure. (Day walkers heading for Dell Quay)

So where is Chichester Cathedral?

"Is that it over there?"

"Could be that pointy bit over there"

With seating available, it's time for a rest.

Following the Chichester Channel, Dell Quay in sight

Chalton Day Walk 22nd July 2022

The long walkers met up at the Queen Elizabeth Park car park eager to get going and enjoy the sunshine without the searing heat of the previous two days. We walked the Shipwrights Way up the South Downs Way where we encountered a sheep extolling its virtues, but Paul thought it would be a bit tough, even with mint sauce. The descent to New Barn Lane was a relief followed by another hill with the chance to buy some flapjacks that looked tempting but nobody carried any cash to buy any. Our route turned south down through Head Down Plantation exiting onto a golden barley field with a buzzard soaring over the Newbarn Hanger. The bridle path that left the road next to the London to Portsmouth railway lead us to St Michael and All Angels church and The Red Lion in Chalton. The church was built in the late 11th or early 12 century to a typically Norman design. The pub is believed to be one of the oldest in Hampshire, dating from at least the 16th century. The pub, refreshments and food were all excellent. During the relaxed repass we decided to change the route back and instead headed up Windmill Hill to climb the steep hill and admire the views. A local farmer corrected our paltry knowledge about cereal crops on our way up. On the way down another minor detour found us in the Butser Ancient Farm visiting the stone age, bronze age, iron age, Roman and Saxon experimental archaeological buildings that they have built on the site over the last fifty years. The buildings are based on archaeological finds in the surrounding area. We received a fascinating insight into the making of oak roof shingles from the volunteers. The walk was 9.62 miles and we climbed 1669 ft (500m).