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Lurgashall walk on 10th January 2024

Thirteen walkers gathered on Lurgashall Green for a 4 mile walk on crunchy ground following cold weather which done its best to harden up the rain sodden earth. We exchanged stories about ice on the road on the journey there, consoling ourselves that a nice warm lunch would be waiting for us at the Noah’s Ark when we finished. The route took us into the graveyard of St Lawrence Church, over a stile, across a field onto a track to Park Farm, walking between the two ponds, over another stile and into fields again. We used the house at Shop Hill Farm to sight the path across the field and into a copse before venturing onto Jobson’s Lane for a short distance where we turned left up towards Ramsfold Wood. Before reaching the wood we took a path to our left, eventually dropping down onto Quell Lane, enjoying the downhill across Quellwood Common followed by a climb back up to the woods beside Blackdown Farm where we stopped for a coffee break. Buoyed by our caffeine boost, we marched smartly past the houses and Home Farm with glorious views in cloudless skies across to the South Downs and admired the wooden horse and foal before heading down the drive towards the gatehouse back down to Jobson’s Lane where we admired the chainsaw wood carving we had seen being carved last year. Turning north and immediately east on the bridleway towards Coochway Ground, we took the footpath away from the bridleway through Spring Coppice, an orchard and back to the Noah’s Ark for our eagerly anticipated lunch that lived up to our expectations.

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Chichester Walk on 3rd January 2024

The New Year walk in Chichester started in Northgate car park with a shower of rain that got heavier as we made our way to Priory Park, the wind joined the rain so a brief stop to view the area where Chichester’s Norman Castle once stood. Built by the Earl of Shrewsbury in the 11th century, by the 13th century it was used as a court and jail, captured by the French then later recaptured by the English in 1217, its destruction was ordered by Henry III between 1222 and 1269. We continued to follow the city walls overlooking the Guildhall with the Cathedral in the background. We heard about the Gunpowder store which was formed in 1838 when the city wall was breached for Priory Road. Allegedly, gunpowder and muskets from the Civil War in 1642 were found in a hidden store. Walking away from the city walls we realised it was too wet to stop on the benches at the Canal basin and unfortunately the coffee shop and Heritage Centre were closed. The volunteers of the Canal taking a well earned rest from all the pre-Christmas boat trips and Santa returning to Lapland. However, we ‘bumbled’ along to another establishment and enjoyed their coffee whilst the weather cleared, later re-joining the walls around the outside of the Cathedral gardens, past the oldest school in Sussex, a private preparatory, the Prebendal School was originally opened as a song school for teaching and housing of the Cathedral Choristers. From the top of North street back to West street all areas of the city walls and each end of the four main streets that lead to the Cross, East, South, North ending at West were visited before arriving for lunch at the Crate and Apple.

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Arundel walk on 20th December 2023

The last walk in 2023 for the Midhurst Footpath Companions was 5.5 miles in Arundel starting at The Black Rabbit, led by Jay and Lindsey. The recent rains had flooded part of the last section of the walk necessitating a diversion. The nine of us waded through the mud on the elevated west bank of the River Arun skirting the Wetland Centre where we crossed the road, stopping for some photographs at the Swanbourne Lake with Mill Hanger rising on our right. Leaving the lake behind we rose through the grassy valley for the steepest climb of the walk in Arundel Park to enjoy the rolling verdant countryside where we stopped for refreshments including Stollen at a convenient copse. We descended at the edge of South Wood, looking down on a solitary Red Kite before coming back to the bank of the Arun where we turned for South Stoke. At this point we had to forgo the flooded scenic meander beside the river and take the road back to the pub. Along the way, Jay and Lindsey had arranged a demonstration of modern sheep herding complete with sheep dog and quadbike for us in compensation. The lunch at The Black Rabbit was most enjoyable although the ladies found the admiring glances of Sean Connery and Jude Law in the facilities a bit disconcerting.

Ready and raring to go

River Arun, 37 miles long and 25.5 miles of it are affected by the tide.

River Arun with the sun fighting to come out

The path on the bank was too muddy, the ditch was drier.

Signpost over enjoyed the Christmas spirit

Walking the shore of the Swanbourne Lake

The end of Swanbourne Lake with the valley behind

Heading up the valley

Rolling up the hills

‘The hills were alight with the sound of music’ ….

All  "Stollened" out

Squadron gliding down to the hanger

Last plane in

Sprinting past the mud in best Billy the Whizz fashion

Shepherding demonstration for us

Last lunch before Christmas

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Midhurst Christmas Walk on 13th December 2023

This 3.5 mile walk preceded our Christmas lunch which was exceptionally well attended. Regrettably the combination of recent rain deluges, ensuing mud baths and the desire to retain some decorum in Christmas attire for the lunch, we were reduced to six walkers aspiring to work up an appetite for lunch. Crossing Oaklands Lane we headed up towards Pendean House, crossed Dunfold Hollow taking the footpath across the squelchy underfoot fields. After leaping stiles and the wooden footbridge over a stream that runs into Costers Brook, we arrived at Bex Lane. Heading towards Bex Mill and beyond we collected an assortment of discarded debris and marvelled at the mushrooms at the side of the road. Marsh Pond was the venue for our coffee stop, facilitated by a bench that the six of us could all sit on while refreshing drinks were imbibed. The difficulties of modern life were discussed as to the likely conversations with authorities one would be embroiled in should one have been unlucky enough to discover a babe in the bullrushes at the edge of the pond. We then took the footpaths towards Goldballs Plantation (which we surmised had little to do with David and Victoria Beckham)  where there were some deviations to avoid the deepest water and mud. On reaching the Serpentine Trail, we turned for home past Walkers Farm and a holly tree laden with berries, wading through fords (fiords?) and finding a spade on our way back to The Royal Oak. We met up with the rest of the Midhurst Walkers for our Christmas Lunch, with thanks to Pauline who organised it for us, and The Royal Oak who delivered it.

The intrepid six, ready to enjoy the sunshine

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Winchester walk on 6th December 2023

With the thought that we could spend some time in the Christmas Market, Winchester seemed a good place for a walk -  it had been the capital of England until 1066. After parking up in St Catherine's Park and Ride, we headed for St Catherine's Hill. It is a bit of a challenge so a few sensible people decided to pop into The Handlebar Cafe, have a coffee and meet the mountaineers on the south side of the Hill. As it happened the hill wasn't too bad, as long as we remembered to have a look at the view every 50 steps. The hill was the site of an Iron Age fort and also contains the buried ruins of a Norman chapel. On top of the hill is one of only two remaining historic English turf mazes where the path is a narrow groove in the turf. We also met a Hampshire Wildlife warden looking for the 8 British White Cows that freely roam the hilltop. The route back down was well maintained with planks and netting - a passer-by said there were 333 steps - luckily for us they were downwards! Having met up with the refreshed walkers, we carried on along the Itchen Way footpath until we found St Cross Bridge which took us across the extensive water meadows.  Turning north, we reached the St Cross Hospital and stopped for a drink. The building is not actually a hospital but was founded in 1136 for “thirteen poor men, feeble and so reduced in strength that they can scarcely or not all support themselves”. Luckily we managed to get away and carried on upstream, looking for a rumoured kingfisher. We were soon back in civilisation and after a quick look at the market, retired to the Wykeman Arms for lunch. The walk was around 4 miles.

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