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Bubble Walks on 7th July 2021

Denis kindly led a walk from the Ironhill car park near Liphook, where we were joined by Pauline's group to have a walk up to Linchmere. Why Ironhill has that name remains a mystery. There were iron producing furnaces in Sicklemill, Hammer, Redford, Fernhurst and just below Henley village, so perhaps this was a good source of raw material to be processed elsewhere. Iron production stopped in the area during the 17/18th century. This area is now a nature reserve. After climbing through the bracken of Stanley Common we walked through Linchmere Common to have a coffee break in the church. Seating was excellent with a wonderful view. Almost as good as Pauline's biscuits. The way back was interesting - with some areas still flooded from the previous day's rain. One steep hill was a good test for those recovering from leg surgery and thankfully surmounted successfully. In the middle of a wood we found an ancient memorial stone, engraved IM.1679, RS.1791 and RL1802, but searching on the internet has not produced any further information. After visiting some hobbits in the nature reserve we eventually reached the car park after 4.3/4 miles over some lovely countryside. Footnote - apparently the Selborne wishing stone tested on 9th June does work, sometimes within 10 days!

Meeting up once again. The Ironhill car park.

We rescued this lucky toad

and took him over the road.

Poet, don't know it!

Stanley Common bracken

Small pond on Stanley Common.

Some residents of Danley Lane still need a phone box.

Nice piece of chainsaw sculpture

Linchmere Church, originally Saxon and rebuilt in the 12th century.

Oooooh, they look nice.

View through the glass South door. "For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face."

Approaching Poison Copse.

Some paths were drier than others.

Luckily in some places planks have been placed to cover the puddles.

We found a mystery stone.

RS 1791, IM 1679 and RL 1802. Any ideas??

Is that a hill approaching?

"So, it was like this".

Perhaps Celina was wishing for a tree house!

About 4.3/4 miles.

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Peter’s bubble walk was in and around Bosham, we started from the car park with overcast skies and a slight drizzle, and headed for the sea front. Soon the weather brightened up with sunshine and a light breeze, and we all enjoyed a lovely walk with picturesque views.

Just checking the tides before continuing

Bosham Quay

Holy Trinity Church is the oldest known place of worship in West Sussex, a grade one listed Anglican church, there was a church on this site in Saxon times.

A wet end street

The Anchor Bleu, circa 18th century with early 19th century additions.

Spot the black bird, any suggestions what it could be?

Idyllic view.

Coffee break.

Horse mounting blocks?

"Hello sailor"

Lovely family group.

Bubble walk on 30th June 2021

With several people on holiday or with sick notes, Pauline kindly agreed to sharing her walk with the Marian/Linda bubble. We started out from the stream at West Dean and headed up the Monarch's Way towards the Trundle. It was not easy walking but very rewarding at the top of Haye's Down. A vast area was covered in poppies and added to the superb views over towards Goodwood. After many many photographs we headed even higher and eventually reached the top of the Trundle. The effort was very worthwhile with excellent views and whole banks of pink orchids. A tractor cutting a field for hay attracted several red kites, on the look-out for a ready meal. A drinks break was taken in the car park before we headed down the Sussex Literary trail and eventually back to West Dean. The shop in West Dean provided us with excellent coffees and sausage buns.

Leaving West Dean

Walking the Monarch's Way

Stunning poppies in amongst the linseed.

House for hire on top of Haye's Down. Yours for a week in September for £12.000

Distant view of Chichester Cathedral

Just before the final climb.

Trig point on top of the Trundle

Not many punters at Goodwood today.

On top of the world

Circling the Trundle

Flowers everywhere

Especially orchids

Even white ones!

Wild Goat's Beard - also known as Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon.

Red Kites constantly hovering, looking for a meal

We couldn't resist a group photo as we again passed the poppies.

Descending the Literary Trail

A call of nature?

Going downhill at last

Linda's found a shepherd

Wonderful walk leader richly deserved the huge sausage roll.

Portsmouth day out 23rd June 2021

We had a day trip to Portsmouth with all bubbles invited. Led by Marian with a back-up in Lorraine (with helpful leaflets) and lots of knowledge from Mary, we had a very enjoyable day. The weather on the day could hardly have been better with sun nearly all day, but not too warm. Portsmouth was not particularly busy and we had a very pleasant stroll to Portsmouth Cathedral. On the way we had a look at the memorial and a replica of where a crippled cobbler called John Pounds would take in starving children, clothe and fed them and give them an education. He is credited with instigating the Ragged Schools movement which was the forerunner of the education system we have for children today. He educated 500 children over 30 years and was proud to say that none were hung!

Portsmouth Cathedral was quite special. Originally very small in 1185, major enlargements have occurred, the last one being completed in 1991. Our walk to Clarence pier was spoilt by some engineering works taking place so it seemed a sensible plan to find a coffee in the Point Barracks. Suitably refreshed, we headed for Spice Island and a view of the Spinnaker Tower before going for lunch in The Old Customs House, a scheduled monument built in 1790 and the oldest building in Gunwharf Quays. The afternoon was spent sight-seeing around Gunwharf, either from ground level or with some of us going up the Spinnaker Tower to get a birds eye view. After a very enjoyable day we all managed to meet up once again for a smooth journey back to Petersfield, courtesy of South West trains.

Here we go!

We made it!

An amazing story.

Rebuilt shop of John Pounds

Peep inside the shop/school.

John Pounds won the "Man of the Millennium Award" from a local paper, ahead of other contenders including Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.

The nave in Portsmouth Cathedral.

The Royal Garrison Church left roofless as a memorial to the 930 civilians who died during the Portsmouth Blitz.

Setting up for a group photo is never easy.

But It must be worth it!

Nelson left Portsmouth in HMS Victory on his last voyage in September 1805 and was fatally wounded on 21st October 1805.

Just strolling in the sunshine.

Ah, coffee at last.

View of the Spinnaker Tower from Spice Island. Spice Island, not named after cargos on ships but from being a very seedy area known for it's "spice of life"

Fish Harbour, still in use for unloading and selling fish.

Some figureheads are bigger than others.

Lunchtime at The Old Customs House.

Where's my chips?

Spice Island from the Spinnaker

HMS Victory with one mast missing. All are being removed, repaired and replaced this summer.

The glass is apparently strong enough to support 2 black rhinos - luckily they weren't there on the day of our visit.

HMS Warrior, the first armour-plated, iron clad ship of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1861 but redundant and decommissioned in 1883. Never saw any action, apart from colliding with other Royal Navy ships.

So what's so interesting?

Warning notices are needed for some people.

Bubble walk on 16th June 2021

Walk leader Janet had organized a great car parking spot at the Sky Park Farm, before taking us on a 5 mile ramble. From the Sky Park Farm we headed along the route of the old Midhurst to Petersfield railway line before turning south so that we could circle the West Heath Common sand pit. Passing through the outer fields of the deer park we headed through fields of broad beans before crossing the Rother and turning towards Durford Abbey, taking the opportunity to shelter under an old oak on the way. Durleighmarsh Farm Shop was very busy so we decided to have our coffee further up the Sussex Border Path. From there we cut back down to Wenham Manor Farm and on to the remains of the railway bridge at Oldcroft before retracing our steps back to the Sky Park Farm. Not only had Janet organized the car park and the walk, we also had access to the Sky Farm picnic area to round off a lovely walk on a hot day. Information about Sky Park Farm is here:- Sky Farm

Ready to go.

Our hosts for the day.

Sand excavation on West Heath Common

Couple of old wrecks, maybe a little past their prime.

These are a variety of red deer which are white. The red fawn is a genetic throwback, not evidence that the fences were too low!

Broad beans, not quite ready for munching.

The Rother bridge, looking at the Common water crowfoot - and what are those beautiful blue things?

Damselflies, this one's a male Banded Demoiselle. Common throughout Europe and Asia, perhaps not surprising as the female can lay eggs at 10 per minute for 45 minutes.

Shady oak on the path to Durford Abbey. Measured and dated, it was possibly just an acorn a year or so after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Miguel showing us the dividing line between wheat and barley.

Aha - there's the dividing line.

Sheltering at Durleighmarsh.

Heading away from Wenham Manor Farm

Group photo

The deer needed a bit of shade as well as us!

Feeding time.

Welcome picnic spot, thank you!

About 5 miles.

Bubble walks on 9th June 2021

Jean led a very pretty walk from the Memorial bridge in Liphook, last walked in winter, now with Azalea, Rhododendron and many wild flowers out it looked so different, besides we went the opposite way round! From the Canadian war graves in Bramshott churchyard, through Conford Park Farm, the lovely village of Conford where fresh eggs were bought and the a coffee break taken by the village hall once the village school, making our way to Passfield Manor, Cooper’s Bridge and back to St Mary’s Church, after walking around five miles we ended with a nice picnic lunch shaded from the sun in Radford Park at Liphook.

The entrance arch into St Mary’s churchyard

Graves of 300 Canadian Soldiers who died in Bramshott during the 1918 flu epidemic

Jean telling an interesting story about Bramshott Church

Bramshott Vale House

Highland cattle on duty at the stile

Conford Park Lake

Conford Park Farm

Shall we buy some eggs?

Conford ford

Passfield Manor gardens

Duck spotting

Picnic to end the walk

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The Selborne walk was probably 2 or 3 weeks early. We started out from the car park behind the Selborne Arms but some of the magnificent displays of orchids on Noar Hill were still in the ground! However there was still plenty to see, including the Well Head Stream, originally moved to its new position in memory of Gilbert White. The ram pump, hidden behind the door provided water to the village up until 1934. See Ram Pump for more information. Up on Noar Hill we only managed to find a few orchids but other wild flowers were in abundance. After a tea break in the shade, we tackled the Selborne Hill, walked along the top to reach the Wishing Stone at the top of the Zig Zag path, before a final descent back to Selborne village.

Checking out the ram pump.

Heading for Noar Hill, a chalk quarry in medieval times, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest

So, very pretty wild flowers, but is there something else?

Thanks to a telephoto lens, we can now see the reason for the interest.

Broomrape, a parasitic plant taking it's nutrients from other plants, often clover

Common Twayblade, not an easy orchid to spot with its green/yellow flowers

Common spotted orchid.

Always worth having a flower book on Noar Hill.

Heading down Noar Hill.

Some people believe that a wish will come true if you walk around this stone backwards three times, with your eyes shut. Stone placed here by Gilbert White.

View over Selborne, The golf balls are for the operation and management of the UK Military Satellite Communications System, and is home to half of the 1001 Signals Unit, which provides voice, telegraph, facsimile, data and imagery services to military users, as well as supporting non-military government agencies.

Much better walking down than up!

Just over 4 miles

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Peter had a small bubble walk in and around South Harting, starting at the church and going upwards from there to the top of Harting hill, stunning weather and stunning views all the way, and what goes up must come down. About 4 miles.