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Stroud and Leven Down walks 5th January 2022

The Stroud walk was quite adventurous with a few hills, cold, muddy in places but luckily the sun shone all morning on 18 walkers. After heading south from Stroud village we turned west to reach Mustercoombe Copse via a series of stiles and damp fields. From there we headed back towards the famed A272, which we successfully crossed without incident. Next to our route was Manor Farm with its listed 15th Century Dovecote. The doves were kept for their manure which was used to tan hides, used as fertilizer, and as an ingredient in gun-powder. However the real purpose of a dovecote was as a reliable source of food for the table. The green field in front of us got progressively steeper before becoming steps and this is how we reached the lower part of Cold Hill and Great Hanger. After a deserved break we continued along Ridge Top Lane before descending Lythe Hanger to reach Lythe Farm and eventually the Seven Stars for lunch. Guest walkers Marion and Paul still signed up in spite of the mud!

Gathering at the start.

First damp field

Double water hazard and stile.

Leaving Stroud

Climbing up through Mustercoombe Copse

Mustercoombe Copse

After much discussion a Pocket Boy had to be tested.

Meanwhile others were smashing through the ice on the puddle

Testing the hill, 15th Century dovecote in the background

Cold Hill game cover crop

Cold Hill portrait

Track towards coffee stop!

Handy logs, with kind permission from Ridge Farm

Choice of seating area available

Descending Lythe Hanger

Towards the bottom of the hill is a memorial seat to a local man who lost his life in Afghanistan.

After passing through a flock of sheep, we later rescued one stuck in a fence

Lunch finished, what shall we do?

Aha -- let's buy some raffle tickets!

A little under 5 miles.

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The Strollers took the opportunity to wander up on Leven Down with its wonderful views up towards Goodwood. The going was muddy in parts and indeed one walker did a rear padding test, hopefully without any lasting damage. Mary kindly supplied a misty alcoholic coffee break which was great and other walkers talked to the birds and sheep with alacrity - nothing to do with the substance I'm sure. Delicious lunch was later partaken in a private hostelry. The walk was a little over 4 miles

Leven Down

Couple of shepherds who seem to have lost their dogs

Good health to you!

Goodwood?

Liphook Walk on 22nd December 2021

We started out from the remains of the old bridge in Liphook, that carried the horse-drawn traffic from London to Portsmouth over the river, and after a quarter of a mile we were under its replacement, the road now designated the A3. Further on we were in the Bramshott Churchyard, the final resting place for over 300 Canadian Soldiers, victims of Flu, WW1 and WW2. Many died soon after WW1 from the Spanish Flu, before they had a chance to return home. Spanish Flu is really incorrect - it probably originated in USA and brought to Europe in American troopships. After passing through the churchyard, we found an ancient sunken lane to take us down into Bramshott village. Then a walk along the road to eventually reach footpaths taking us to Passfield Manor. After a break for refreshments at Conford Village Hall, we passed Conford Park House (was on the market for £8.5m in September) before crossing the B3004 and walking into Bramshott once again. After passing Boris Karloff's last residence we retraced our steps back to our cars before meeting up for an outside coffee at the Royal Anchor in the village.

The old bridge

Gaining a bit of local knowledge.

Setting off

Excellent graffiti under the A3

Bramshott Churchyard

History lesson near the Canadian graves

Nice posing seat in Bramshott

Trees clinging on to the bank

Passfield Manor

Pause for thought over Conford Moor

Conford may be small but at least it has a library!

and a village hall, which used to be the school.

Conford Park House

Walking down from Conford Park House

Highland cattle in Bramshott Vale Farm

Bramshott Vale House built circa 1731, once the home of an ironmaster, with furnaces in Hammer and Fernhurst.

Some people can't resist a second look at the graffiti

About 5.1/4 miles.

West Lavington Christmas walk on 15th December 2021

Isabel organized a Christmas lunch walk from the Royal Oak in Midhurst. We walked down to the Jubilee path to South Pond and then onwards down The Wharf. After crossing the river we headed along the New Lipchis Way towards the Kennels Dairy before reaching the road. From there we walked past West Lavington, over the long defunct railway bridge to finally reach the Royal Oak for a splendid Christmas lunch.

Gathering at the start

Travelling down the Chichester Road

A couple of elves joined our party

South Pond and the Grange

South Pond

Cowdray Castle from The Lipchis Way

Time for refreshment

Fancy some Stollen ?

Who's got a tub of sweeties?

Cheers!

More Stollen

Flag flying at Cowdray House

Treading New Lipchis Way

"Don't look now girls, he's going for a handstand!"

No sign of the Midhurst to Pulborough train over there

Group photo - we nearly all made it!

Ready for Christmas Lunch

Plenty of hats on display

Severals from the Greyhound 8th December 2021

The walk led by Pauline started from the Greyhound car park, already crowded by another large walking party. We ducked under the old Midhurst/Chichester railway line to reach Pitsham Farm and Lambs Pitsham Brickworks, still busy making special bricks. From there we headed through the fields and lanes to reach Bepton, and eventually the Severals. The wonderful Sunset Hill seemed a good spot for a break, but the wind did its best to spoil it. The forecast had said windy with 30mph gusts but we didn't experience any serious windy spots. From Sunset Hill we headed round the back of the Midhurst Whites site before crossing Bepton Road again to go past New Pond and down Pitsham Lane, eventually passing under the old railway line once again to reach the Greyhound in good time for an excellent lunch.

Starting out from The Greyhound

Under the railway

Pitsham Brickworks, award winning manufacturers of bricks for exclusive Knightsbridge buildings, and Catherine and Andy's fireplace.

Nothing too muddy

At last a chance to rest feet on Sunset Hill

and to show the latest on mobile phones.

View from The Hill

Rootscape

Descending

Despite winter approaching, the gorse keeps flowering

Stopped for a break

Deep pond at the old brickworks

Christmas is coming

New Pond, Pitsham Lane.

Pitsham Farm where the first case of BSE occurred in 1984, but not confirmed until 1987. Over 4 million cattle were slaughtered and 177 people died from the associated VCJD.

"I hope he's got me a biscuit in that box"

Nearly the last stile.

This IS the last one, I think ?

Back under the railway

Back at the start once again.

About 5 mles

Chichester and Strollers in River

The Chichester walkers started off from Sheepwash Lane in Lavant. The river Lavant was in a very healthy flow, different to how it was in early November. We took the Goodwood road to reach the footpath beyond Church Farm. After the fields and paths of the city perimeter, we headed west to find the Centurion Way at Brandy Hole Copse, a small Nature reserve managed by Chichester Council. Travelling south down the Centurion Way we were all surprised with the enormous housing development going on to the west, where Whitehouse Farm used to be. The sun was around as unfortunately also was a cold wind, so our coffee stop didn't last long. We eventually reached the Bishop's Palace Gardens (dating back to 1148!), in the shadow of Chichester Cathedral, before doubling back to reach the old City wall walk. This took us towards our bus stop for our final journey back to Lavant. Another stop in The Partridge, Singleton, was used to refuel.