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Tilford walk on 12th October 2022

After meeting up outside the Barley Mow, the walkers, led by Kathryn, crossed the Green and headed up the footpath towards Frensham Little Pond. The path firstly follows the River Wey before diverting to pass through Meadow End Farm which has a large collection of very large pigs, very entertaining! A little later we approached, with some trepidation, an area that is often flooded, with only a limited footbridge for assistance. Even with our dry summer, it was surprising to find it so completely dry. We reached Frensham Little Pond Cafe and enjoyed some buns and coffee before turning back towards Pierrepont Home Farm, crossing the Wey on a wooden footbridge en route. Cheese on the Wey is an artisan cheesemaker in the old dairy buildings at Pierrepoint Farm and it seemed a shame to miss the opportunity to taste some samples. Beyond Pierrepoint Farm is the Tankersford Common, an area looked after by the RSPB. To keep a variety of vegetation in check there are a number of "wild" Dun horses on the Common, a horse colour often found in prehistoric cave paintings. After walking through Farnham Heath Nature Reserve we crossed the road to walk down to Tilfordmill Bridge. Turning right we took the footpath that eventually brought us back to the green and The Barley Mow, where several walkers stayed for an efficient lunch. The walk was just over 5 miles.

Gathering on the green.

Autumn is here

River Wey on the way

"I just wonder if there's any more food in there"

Sometimes waders are needed, but not today.

Heading for Frensham Pond

Birds finishing our cake

"I can see you"

Checking out the birds.

River Wey crossing

The Cheese on the Wey shop

A Dun horse, with a black line along its back

Farnham Heath Nature reserve

Apparently is edible with a pleasant mushroomy taste. Shaggy Inkcap, must be eaten very young.

World War II bunker hidden in the undergrowth near Tilford Green.

Nearly there. Tilford Bridge, probably the oldest Packhorse bridge in the country.

About 5 miles

Portsmouth trip on 5th October 2022

Our trip to Portsmouth had a poor weather forecast but this didn't dishearten the walkers, with some people excited with the thought of travelling on a train for the first time for many months, even years! After the train ride, we walked through Gunwharf Quays before finding our way to the John Pounds memorial. An amazing man, crippled in a dockyard accident, he set up as a shoemaker, but in 1818 began giving poor children free basic education. He died in 1839 but his example set in motion a free schools movement ( The Ragged Schools) and by 1881 it is thought 300,000 children had been educated in a Ragged School, there being 200 throughout Britain. Charles Dickens was inspired to write A Christmas Carol after a visit to a Ragged School. With the Education Act of 1870, education gradually became free to all children and volunteer based Ragged Schools were no longer required.

A short walk down the road and we reached the Portsmouth Cathedral where we had a delightful guided tour by a volunteer. Many examples of the naval background of Portsmouth were present, with pieces on Nelson's flag, a cross made form HMS Victory and the grave of one seaman whose remains were found on the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545. From there we walked along the Millennium Trail, via Spice Island, back to The Old Customs House for a very good lunch. As we prepared to leave, the rain came down, but had stopped again by the time we reached the exit. The afternoon was free to shop or to visit the nearby Naval Shipyard. In the shipyard is an impressive boat restoration building, Boathouse No 4. Here we met up with a very knowledgeable guide who was kind enough to get us onto the pontoon and view some historic restorations, including a motor gun boat, available to hire. We just had time for a coffee before we had to get back to the station for the journey home.

Petersfield station

John Pounds workshop, rebuilt at the Unitarian Church in the High Street

So, what's in the window?

Crippled in a shipyard accident, John Pounds gave hundreds a basic education, sometimes 40 pupils crammed in his shop

Portsmouth Cathedral. The spire was never damaged during WW2 as it was a handy landmark when heading for the dockyard.

Grave of an unknown sailor from The Mary Rose, one of more than 450 who drowned when the boat capsized

The magnificent organ, originally built for Manchester Cathedral.

There is a fragment of the flag from HMS Victory in the Cathedral

From this spot, convicts went to Australia and New Zealand. Luckily not on Wednesdays!

Spice Island

Fish market on the quay

Tasty selection - and free ice if needed.

Lunchtime

HMS Warrior built in 1860 was the country's first steel hulled battleship. Redundant within 10 years, it never saw any action at sea.

Luckily the wind had died down enough for us to be allowed onto the pontoon outside Boathouse No. 4

High Speed rescue launch used in WW2. 13,000 airmen of all nationalities were rescued from the sea by these craft.

Motor Gun Boat 81. Incredibly fast, originally powered by 3 petrol engines, wooden hull. submarine hunter.

Pontoon party

Inside Boathouse No. 4, having a private tour.

All safely back to Petersfield

Lodsworth walk on 28th September 2022

Isabel's walk started from the centre of Lodsworth and we welcomed two guest walkers John and Maureen. We headed up School Lane and then took footpaths towards Grevatts and Vining Common. The path turns north and we took the turning towards Ovis common, where we found an ideal drinks break spot with seating for everyone and a long view over the Low Weald ahead of us. Suitably refreshed, we joined the Serpent Trail and carried on through Redlands Farm where we found several friendly polo ponies enjoying the grass. We followed the Serpent trail for another half mile before leaving it to walk down River Lane, turning again to head back towards Lodsworth, passing Eel bridge on the way. From here a 13 year old Ranulph Fiennes and his sister canoed down to the sea at Climping. However the journey had taken 2 days and his mother was somewhat annoyed! We eventually reached the village, having passed E.H. Shephard's house on the way. Lunch was at the Royal Oak, where we were pleased to met up with more MFC walkers.

Gathering outside the Hollist Arms.

Private graveyard for the Farthing family

Towards Leggatts we saw this black and white horse paying dead. Very convincing for a while!

Touch of colour co-ordination for Lodsworth.

It was a good day for funghi. These bracket funghi are almost inedible when young and worse as they age.

Ideal picnic spot

With a view to match

Heading for the Serpent Trail

Redlands Farm

Ponies, keep walking, avoid eye contact!

They're just being friendly

and inquisitive!

Group shot near Salmonsbridge Farm

We're going that way!

Approaching the bottom of Lodsworth village

St Peter's Well, supposedly good water for eye complaints, but not recommended.

Early home of the Fiennes family

About 5.1/2 miles.

Chapel Common Walk on 21st September 2022

The walk on Chapel Common was led by Denis and Jean, starting from the lay-by near to the site of The Black Fox in Liphook. Despite a lot of wondering, we were no further forward deciding what the rebuilding work was all about. Taking the footpath towards the Liphook and Ripsley Cricket Club, we were forced to divert because of a fallen branch. This was not the last but we all survived the walk. After passing under the main Portsmouth to Waterloo railway line, we joined the Sussex Border Path to pass by Folly Pond at Forest Mere. Coffee stop near Hilly Fields Copse and then a walk through the woods where we passed over the route of the Chichester to Silchester Roman Road. There was no sign of the road at that point but this is the same road that passes through Milland. Silchester still exists as a small village north of Basingstoke, with some splendid remains of the Roman walls, built on the site of an Iron age settlement. After briefly walking part of the Shipwrights Way, we turned at Langley Wood towards Chapel Common with its wildlife and ecology protected by its Site of Special Scientific Interest status. Plenty of mushrooms and toadstools were spotted before we eventually got back to our parking spot and from there we made our way to The Jolly Drover for lunch.

"I'm sure there's a path here somewhere"

Definitely a problem

Under the railway

Woodland past the horse trial grounds

A road, at last! Only for one minute.

Spindleberry in the hedge.

Danger, low bridge!

Break time.

Lovely garden on the route

Supposed route for oak from Farnham to Portsmouth for the Tudor shipbuilders

Varied habitat on Chapel Common

The dog was so excited he forgot to bite our walk leader.

Now, what's growing here?

Poisonous, but sometimes eaten after boiling twice. Also hallucinogenic. apparently.....

More toadstools. In other places there were some aged ceps/boletes

Back to the start.

About 4.1/4 miles

Easebourne, Woolbeding walk on 14th September 2022

A combination of illness and holidays depleted the numbers this week, resulting in six intrepid wanderers for the day. We started at the Cowdray Café car park in the drizzle up the track past the polo pitches towards the Cowdray Ruins, turning right to come out on the main road at the roundabout near the bridge over the River Rother weirs. We considered scrumping some apples and plums but thought we would get caught red handed, so restrained ourselves. The route took us along the River Rother on the New Lipchis Way through the wetlands with poplar and silver birch trees, woods and fields. We debated the merits of rose hip tea and jam at a suitable bush, but could not agree on the best use of the crop. At the boundary of the National Trust land for Woolbeding we clambered gracefully over the large branch that had split off an oak tree before heading up across the hill. We spent some time amusing ourselves to find the sight line between the folly at the edge of Whiphill Wood and the Tulip Folly on the lawn of Woolbeding House ,designed by Phillip Jebb, this classical temple folly is named after a tulip tree that fell in the winter storms of 1987. The drizzle had all but stopped walking through Whiphill Wood and down the hill with views of the meandering Rother and the new Woolbeding glasshouse with one leaf open. Crossing the Petersfield Road we sauntered into The Severals wood to pick up part of the Serpent Trail towards Midhurst Common where we climbed a small hill to have a coffee break on the seating overlooking the common. Fully refreshed we descended back to the Serpent Trail following it through Midhurst Common, past the rusted remains of a BMW that we wondered how it got there over 20 years ago so far from the road. On leaving the common, we took the South Pond path to the pond, crossed the footbridge and made our way to the Wheatsheaf for lunch. After lunch the remaining stalwarts returned to their vehicles along the carriageway to the ruins and the track beside the polo pitches. Many thanks to Bernard for stepping in at the last minute to do the walk this week.