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Easebourne/South Ambersham walk 8th June 2022

Isabels walk started out from the Easebourne car park and after crossing went alongside the golf course - fortunately with no errant balls! After passing over the bridges near Moor Farm it was time to walk alongside the River Rother, with lots of flowers and wildlife to distract everybody. The coffee stop was near Great Todham Farm before walkers took the route past the Kennels and then down into the Wharf and past St Anne's Hill. The final leg past Cowdray Ruins produced a little rain. Lunch wasn't possible at the White Horse so the walkers went to The Royal Oak for a very enjoyable lunch after their 5 miles wander.

Skirting the polo fields

Walking away from the Cowdray Ruins

One of Cowdrays magnificent trees

Water on tap!

I hope they're not looking for a lift?

Rother bridge

Beautiful Red Admiral, maybe a native but probably from mainland Europe or Africa.

Mushroom or a bird's egg?

Water meadow walking

Healthy fern growth doesn't make for easy walking!

"We're stopping for tea over there".

"That's better".

Small hungry bug.

Thundery clouds up there.

Happy walkers, on realising the rain has gone south.

Right, now for some knee bending exercises.

About 5 plus miles.

Hartley Mauditt Walk on 1st June 2022

Luckily we had sufficient spaces in the car park behind The Selborne Arms so we weren't forced to pay in the Museum/Cafe car park. After heading for the Zig Zag path we did not take that route and fortunately turned towards Alton, walking along beneath the Selborne Hanger. We then walked along a very narrow part of Gracious Street to reach acres full of broad/field beans. The smaller 'Field' seed planted in autumn/harvested in June is for animal fodder. The larger variety 'Broad Bean' is more commonly planted in Spring, for human consumption. Both varieties are good for adding Nitrogen to the soil! This crop is replacing oil seed rape which has suffered from bad weather and flea beetle attacks in previous years. After more fields of beans and a few potatoes we reached the site of the Medieval Site of Hartley Mauditt. A settlement existed for many centuries before a church was built in the 12th century and the manor was originally granted to William de Maldoit (Mauditt) by William the Conqueror. The original manor house was situated where the wood currently grows, immediately behind the church. Many centuries passed without undue drama, until the Roundheads came from Alton in 1643 and destroyed the manor house. A few years later it was rebuilt by the Stuart family in the field to the south of the church and subsequently occupied by Lord Stowell. Lord Stowell preferred town life, his wife preferred the country, so in 1798 in a fit of pique he had the manor house demolished. The villagers eventually moved away so hardly a trace of the village remains, apart from the church, although it is thought the Roundhouse on the B3006 may have been a gatehouse. After some refreshment we headed back towards Selborne (with a few diversions caused by fallen trees and new born lambs) for an enjoyable lunch in the Selborne Arms. The walk was about 5 miles.

Ready to start the walk

There was a footpath in there, now completely blocked by a fallen tree.

Acres of beans

Be very careful of the badger holes!

Crossing the B3006

St Leonard's Hartley Mauditt.

Checking out the church

A single war grave

Coffee break

The village pond

Wheat makes a change from beans

Passing the Hartley Wine Estate.

May need the clippers through here........

Detour around a fallen tree

Sheep around here

Sheep everywhere

Keep the gate shut please!

Some orchids were seen , but there's plenty more on nearby Noar Hill

Lunch in the Selborne Arms

About 5 miles.

Walderton walk on 25th May 2022

Bernard and Celina's walk started at The Barley Mow, Walderton and headed up Woodlands Lane on a newly tarmacked road that the Council finished in time for our walk. The bridleway followed the edge of Watergate Hanger and a lush wheat field, before turning east, descending the Hanger and through Watergate. No sign of Nixon or intrepid journalists, but some white guinea fowl made up for it. Drizzle and wind guided our decision to stop for our coffee break at a memorial table and benches with views over Walderton to contemplate our lunch. From there we walked through Woodbarn wood and Inholmes Wood before joining the Monarch Way to Stoughton in the footsteps of King Charles II as he fled Parliamentarian troops and escaped to France in 1651. As we made excellent time, we took time to visit the largely complete 11 th Century Norman church, St Mary’s at Stoughton and a Giles Gilbert Scott 1935 design, red telephone box still with a telephone in it. In order to burn off some calories and make room for lunch we took a short detour up the other side of the valley up into Walderton Hill Plantation before a grateful return to the hostelry that fed and watered us handsomely.

Some were very eager to get started

This is the way to go, says walk leader

A bucolic scene, all we need is a sheepdog

Strolling the field above the Watergate Hanger

A distant view of the sea

Luckily they're not doing the walk leading today

Descending Watergate Hanger

No President Nixon at Watergate House, just a white guinea fowl,

Climbing up towards Piglegged Row

Maybe it rained a little

View over Walderton of the distant sea

"Hello - any chance of a cab?"

St Mary's Church at Stoughton. Has 6 bells. No safe parking near the church due to the unmarked graves and vaults, otherwise your visit may be longer than intended.

The energetic walkers needed another hill before lunch

Walderton Down

Back at last

Yum yum at the Barley Mow

About 5.1/2 miles, 270m of ascent.

Thursley and Heyshott Walks on 18th May 2022

The Thursley Day Walk started with a panic as we arrived at the start to discover the army were on manoeuvres and had closed the main car park. With Andy on 'car park' direction duty and some off-roading by Jay to get to the start, we eventually all assembled safely in the lower car park. We set off east across Thursley Common, then north over Ockley common, with beautiful views towards Farnham, arriving at the Little Barn Cafe in Elstead for a lunch in the garden in glorious sunshine, alongside some army chaps sneaking a bit of lunch. The afternoon session took us past the historic Westbrook farm and Barn and down to Hankley Common, passing the fishing ponds (great demonstration by Paul) and the golf club which was busy with a tournament taking place. After passing through the golf course and witnessing a very obedient golf trolley following its owner, we arrived at The Atlantic Wall training area - used by Canadian Troops in WW2 for practice before D Day. With gunfire in the distance, we trooped back to the car park passing many tents and army vehicles along the way. Amusement of the day involved watching an army chap drive off to exit the site, then returned past us as he'd forgotten the key to the gate! The walk was about 8 miles.

At last, ready to go!

Pointing not quite coordinated!

Those boots were made for walkin'

Drinks break

Let's get out of here.

Group photo

Elstead Church

Westbrook Farmhouse, 17th Century, or earlier

Fishing break at Stockbridge Pond

"It was this big, but it got away!"

More work from the Canadians during WW2

Manoeuvres in progress.

Mmmmmm, bit more capacity than a motorbike

Heading for the car park

Surely not a posed photo!?

Phew, lucky to escape in one piece

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Isabel's select group of four on the morning walk started from the Unicorn Pub in Heyshott and walked through fields, woods and farm land. We had plenty of clear views of the South Downs, but were quite pleased not to be climbing up the hills as the weather turned progressively warmer during the morning. Sadly the bluebells and cowslips had finished flowering, but we did see plenty of wild flowers, cows, goats and two deer. On our return, we enjoyed our lunch at the Unicorn Pub. The walk was about 5 miles.

Select group starting out from the Unicorn

Break time

Now, where did I put my Thermos?

Interesting camping spot

Is this cow just plain tired - or is rain on its way?

Just a little place in the country

Nice to find a bit of shade

"Since that shower of rain, I just can't do a thing with my hair!"

Back for lunch in The Unicorn

Marley Walk 11 May 2022

Jean's walk started out from The Mill Tavern in Shottermill and took walkers through Camelsdale village and up Marleycombe Road before reaching Marley Common and a point high above Kingsley Green. The route was then a climb up through to Cognor Wood and then a gradual descent to a point above Linchmere Marsh. Another climb up to Marley and then a final descent down through Brinksway and on to The Mill for a good lunch. The walk was a little over 4 miles.