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Hawkley walk on 14 May 2025

There were reduced numbers on today’s walk, led by Jay, as quite a few walkers were away. For those walking we were blessed with fine sunny weather. The walk started out from Pococks Lane in Hawkley heading west and then north along Standfast Lane to Empshott. We stopped for coffee at the picturesque Holy Rood Church on Empshott Green. The church is 13th century, though there has been some rebuilding over the centuries, including an interesting leaded glass bell turret. Heading on to Hangers Way we spotted some baby lambs separated from their mothers. Animal rescuers Mark and Jo sprung into action, catching the lambs and depositing them on the right side of the fence. We then headed South towards Lower Green before passing through the village of Hawkley and a quick stop off at St Peter and St Paul church. It was then on to the Hawkley Arms for an al fresco lunch.

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Linchmere walk on 7th April 2025

Today's walk, led by Denis, started out from the Iron Hill Car park and soon joined the Serpent Trail through Stanley Common. The weather was perfect for walking, not too hot but plenty of sunshine. The walking was very good with some not too challenging hills and plenty of signs that spring had arrived, complete with a cuckoo for part of the walk. After some discussion about the length of walk we decided to make Linchmere Church our coffee stop. The chuch of St Peter is probably of Anglo Saxon origin and stands on top of a hill with views to the South and West. It is the last resting place of Richard Dimbleby who lived locally. A famous broadcaster, he braved many flights over Germany during WWII and his first report of the state of Belsen concentration camp was too much for the BBC to broadcast. It was another 4 days before he forced the BBC to release a more sanitised, but still horrific version. 

His son Jonathan wrote about his life growing up in Linchmere many years ago. Click here -- Jonathan Dimbleby remembers

Our return route took us once again through Stanley Common, but via a different route, nearer to Stanley Farm. Climbing up Iron Hill was a minor challenge but the scenery was sufficiently nice and distracting we hardly noticed the ascent! We eventually arrived back at the car park and from there made our way to The Jolly Drover for a very good lunch. Many thanks to Jennifer and Jay for additional material.

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Lurgashall Walk on 30th April 2025

Mark and Jo’s selection of a 5 mile walk mostly in woods was perfect for keeping us in the shade on this hot and sunny day.  Leaving the green at Lurgashall we walked away from The Noah’s Ark pub until we took the footpath across fields, orchard with ponies and into Spring Coppice leading into the woods of Windfallwood Common and crossed the road north of Dial Green.  Edging past on the vineyard’s fields we entered Lower Calhams woods where some fallen trees afforded seating for our coffee break.  The path led us to Stroud Lane where we loitered by the ponds at Lower House Farm continuing south until we came out onto Lickfold Road until we took the path at Upperfold Farm across fields, crossing Jobson’s Lane and onto Dial Green Lane back to The Noah’s Ark Inn where we had a splendid lunch.

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West Stoke walk on 23rd April 2025

Isabel’s 4.75 mile walk started at the West Stoke car park where we each decided whether to wear our rain gear or take it in case we needed it.  A sudden shower early on made up our minds.  A brief foray with the traffic on Stoke Road took us to Stoke Wood with abundant carpets of bluebells that extended into Ashling Wood.  Turning north on Woodend and then Downs Road, we took the bridle path up Bowhill where views to Hayling Island and Havant appeared through the distant mist.  Skirting West Copse, we reached the brow of the hill walking down Stoke Down to the entrance to Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve where we took advantage of the information hut and seating to have our coffee break and chat with another rambling group.  Leaving the nature reserve we ascended the bridle paths up to Stoke Clump with great views to the south including Chichester and stayed on this path down to Downs Road and made our way back to the car park through West Stoke.  We adjourned to the Fox and Hounds in Funtington for an enjoyable lunch.

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Graffham walk on 16th April 2025

Our limited number of members were supplemented with very welcome new walkers as we gathered at the Graffham recreation ground car park for our 4.05 mile walk.  We walked back up to the war memorial on the main road, turned right past The Foresters Inn and village store, then left onto the footpath between fields of sheep with their lambs.  Dropping down we crossed the footbridge over the stream into Middleheath Copse enjoying the sunshine and woods when we came to the bank of the stream that we followed until the path bore us away across another stream and up the hill of Graffham Common in the pine woods.  At the top of Gallows Hill we stopped at a convenient bench to enjoy our coffee break, the views and some fine banter.  Joining the Serpent Trail, we walked more in the Common woods, the sculpture of the sheep standing on the back of a pig kept us guessing for a while. Continuing down the hill we got back to a local road by Barnett’s Bridge; staying on the Serpent Trail we entered Lavington Common, a sandy heath with ponds and some muddy paths.  Leaving the Trail at the tee junction we headed south to Lower Barn taking the unmetalled tracks to Upper Norwood and back to the car park.  Half of us retired to sample The Foresters under new management, enjoying an excellent lunch.

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