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Bubble walks 16th December 2020

Isabel led a small bubble up to Grevatts via The Race and Easebourne Playground and then through the woods, stopping at the black huts for coffee and a few Christmas nibbles. We continued on towards Whitters Copse before turning South across the fields back to Easebourne with some fine views of distant South Downs on the way. The rain didn’t start until after our snack and it could have been a lot worse.

Some brilliant tree carving in Easebourne Playground

Nice distancing!

Could be a selfie?

Not really the true track, but something similar. About 5 miles.

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Tim was very grateful for additional guidance from Marian, Linda and Maddie for a Christmas walk over the Midhurst commons. We started off from Carron Lane and then headed for the old station and the back of Midhurst Brickworks old home. From there we meandered past the disused pit ponds of Midhurst Common until we reached the Severals Road. There were a few tricky, muddy paths and puddles to negotiate before reaching Minsted Road but apart from the odd car or van, we could then walk without watching every step! Quags Corner was a set of interesting cottages we passed on the way to Woolmer Bridge from where we went through the Severals again to reach our coffee spot up on Sunset Hill on Midhurst Common. Mary produced some seasonal nips and many other people produced amazing amounts of mince pies, biscuits, lebkuchen, chocolates and stollen to make it seem like a normal Christmas, less the hugging! Luckily after all the food, it wasn't far from the car park. About 4 miles.

Starting out.

Stepping out

Marian going for a swing

Severals woods

Near Minsted Farm

Friendly dogs welcomed us back to Midhurst Common.

Picnic spot with a view of the misty South Downs

I wonder.......

Oooooow, that's nice.

The rain didn't stop play.

Drinks bar for the day.

About 4 miles.

Bubble walks 9th December 2020

Celia and Miguel's walk began at the junction of Bepton Close and Pitsham Wood. We walked along the Jubilee Path to South Pond, down through the Wharf and via Cowdray to the Rother Path. After reaching Woolbeding ,we then went through Midhurst Common back to our starting point. We were pleased to have better weather with no rain or fog.

Egyptian goose. Once sacred in Egypt, in the United Kingdom in 2009, it was officially declared a non-native species. Accordingly, Egyptian geese in Britain may be shot without special permission if they cause problems.

Wharf bridge

C18th Cowdray House bridge

Cowdray House, visited by Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I before it burnt down in 1793.

"But didn't Mary Queen of Scots also visit there" - "Not too sure but her mother did when Mary was a child in 1551"

Mill Bridge weir

Coffee time

Woolbeding folly

Construction at Woolbeding -- a new ten sided "kinetic" glasshouse set in a specially landscaped series of garden zones, will exhibit flowers, trees and shrubs that depict the key regions of the Silk Route. This route from Asia to Europe was used to bring many plants that characterise English gardens and parks. It should be ready to be open to the public next Spring. We met the couple who live next door to the gardens who are worried about all the visitors who may turn up to see this new addition.

On the downhill stretch and hoping that the cows and, more especially the bull, will let us go through the open gate area where they were all gathered together!

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Marian and Tim's walk started from the Causeway Car park and after being joined by guest walker Jennie, took the Rother walk up to Woolbeding. After a look at the huge Greenhouse being erected, we stopped in the grounds of All Hallows church, with a history going back over 1,000 years, Suitably refreshed we took the field route parallel to Hollist Lane before turning up Old Buddington Lane and Buddington Farmhouse. After regaining Hollist lane we headed for the Cowdray Cafe and eventually returned to the car park via the Causeway. The walk was about 5.1/2 miles

Descending from Whiphill Wood

Chatting on Woolbeding Bridge

Off we go!

Just checking the tyres on this huge lorry loaded with the glass segments for the greenhouse. There were 2 lorries both had come from Spain.

Church path

All Hallows Church

Woolbeding House in the background.

On good authority, this is a GOAT.

About 5.1/2 miles

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Peter’s bubble walk started at Rogate village hall, then headed up North Street a short distance before branching right following the footpath across a field, then turning left into and up North Street a little then left along Halecommon Lane, branching right onto the footpath to Commonside Road, following the road onto Halecommon and up to Canada Cottage, returning a different route to Slade Lane then left following the footpath to Rogate, through Rogate Church yard into the recreation field, where we REALLY had exercise on the new outdoor gym, great fun had by all. A good relaxing walk with far reaching views, including a detour to avoid cattle movement, about four miles.

The start at the village car park

New plantation on Halecommon.

On our way to Canada Cottage

Some FUN GUYS!!

Misty Downs

St Barthoiomew Rogate

Escaping Father Christmases

The new multi gym

Are you going first or me?

Some never grow up!

Our photographer being photographed.

Bubble Walks 2nd December 2020

We started in Midhurst car park and headed to Easebourne to pick up June, the walk leader for the day. We then took to the fields to head towards Budgenor Lodge but turned north towards Bexleyhill, then turning southeast towards Grevatts. There were some fine views across to the South Downs but it was a fairly cold grey day. We returned back to the Cowdray Cafe via Easebourne Lane where we stopped for refreshments. The last leg was back down to Cowdray ruins and then up the Causeway to the car park. Probably over 6 miles.

Gathering in the car park, Midhurst.

Fields just above Easebourne.

Walk leader resting.

Lovely old mossy wall

Time for a break

Now, let's just see how far we can get with our eyes shut.

OK, you can open your eyes, we're going this way!

Sun trying hard to shine, but not succeeding.

Well deserved break.

Please excuse spikes in the mapping. Over 6 miles.

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Peter’s bubble walk started at Benbow Pond off the A272 between Easebourne and Lodsworth turn-offs, ambling across open farmland and woodland with lovely long reaching views, stopping at Lodsworth Church for coffee break, then on to Leggitt Hill, through Lodsworth village and cross country back to Benbow Pond just before the rain started, a good 5 mile walk, just what we all needed after lockdown.

Benbow Pond. with Memorial Temple erected in 2000 in memory of the late Viscount Cowdray the Third.

There's no hiding place for some.

Seasonal berries.

The Church of St Peter, Lodsworth, 12 or13th Century

Coffee break

Home to Ranulph Fiennes?

Back to Benbow Pond

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Jean led a walk around the backroads of Bramshott, a walk of many interesting parts. From the memorials to Canadian soldiers once stationed nearby to extraordinary sculptures in a garden. One house was particularly interesting - the man who sold eggs! Buried up the end of a dead end lane the owner told the recent story of the house. Apparently the original cottage is very old and belonged to the Arundel estate, which seems a bit odd. It was on a lease for 10,000 years and the rent was an annual red rose. Someone was living in it when the egg man bought it 12 years ago, but he says it was in a dreadful state and not really fit for human habitation. He did all the work on it himself to get it to state it is now in and even used wood from the oak trees nearby! The weather managed to stay dry till the end of the walk - about 5 miles.

I think we'll go that way.

Passfield Manor 1

Passfield Manor 2

Plenty of painted stones on Conford Common.

Boot testing at Conford

The pump outside the house of the egg man.

Restoration egg man!

Two dancers suddenly appear on the lawn.

Boathouse at Conford Park Farm.

Not the normal horse - anyone know the name for the breed?

Bubble Walks 4th November 2020

With the start of another lockdown and the prospect of no bubble walks for 4 weeks, it was only fair that we were given a perfect autumn day to finish this session. There was frost on the ground but clear sunshine all morning.

Pauline's bubble of six walked from South Pond towards Todham Rough and Heyshott Common where the area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), continuing on just a small part of the 64 mile long Serpent Trail, (so named because of its shape) to Dunford Hollow and then back to the cars, having covered just over five miles.

Car park start, Isabel looking a shadow of herself

South Pond

Goose snoozing

Cowdray Castle from the New Lipchis Way

One's thatch should always be well maintained!

Coffee stop with the autumn colours all around.

Time for a break

Horses, just chillin'.

Nice old plough.

A special window on the world.

Nearing the end of the walk.

Just over 5 miles.

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Marians walk started from the car park at the end of Woolbeding Lane where we welcomed several guests from Peter's Bubble.

A frosty start over the meadow beyond Woolbeding Bridge and then up the small hill above the Rother as far as Stedham Mill.

Here we stopped for refreshments which included small amounts of a delicious alcoholic nip to sustain us through the forthcoming lockdown. Thanks Mary! After a wander though Stedham village we traversed the polo fields before entering The Severals and Midhurst Common..

A lovely walk with good company - a great way to end the current season.

Starting out

Crossing Woolbeding Bridge. Despite some repair work and alteration, Woolbeding Bridge survives in a good state of preservation. It is a fine example of a medieval multi-span bridge, largely unaltered, of which fewer than 200 still exist.

Chilly morning.

Probably too late to try fertilizer...

Receiving instructions from our leader.

Stedham Mill, C18th or C19th House. Mill originally used for the manufacture of blotting paper - there's a blast from the past!

Stedham Mill, sluice gates open so we could stand around the stepping stones.

What a great still day.

Mary, showing off her latest fascinator.

Some idiot looking for goldfish.

Leaving the Mill

Hollow Yew in Stedham churchyard.

Crossing the Polo grounds

Plants ignores the pandemic, thank goodness.

Sunset Hill on Midhurst Common.

About 4.1/2 miles.

Bubble walks 28th October 2020

Denis led the walk from the Grange car park and we did a circular tour of West Lavington and it included finding out where the air raid shelters where in WW2. Very enjoyable but unfortunately the rain had not seen the forecast and seemed to carry on for much of the morning. We walked the path below St Ann's Hill fully prepared to do our final walk up the Causeway and back through the town, but at that point the heavens opened and after sheltering we decided to climb and explore St Ann's Hill instead. A coffee stop in the square was very welcome before finally walking along West Street and back to the car park. A damp but very enjoyable walk. Walk was around 3 miles.

Not a promising start!

Bridge at the bottom of The Wharf. The Wharf once was an unloading point for coal, brought up from the River Arun.

West Lavington Churchyard contains the grave of Richard Cobden, politician and leading figure of the Anti-Corn Law League who was born nearby at Heyshott in 1804, attended school in Midhurst, and spent much of his later life at his family home in Heyshott, Dunford farmhouse.

Denis checking his route.

Ah ha - it's not raining!

West Lavington church. As a result of falling congregations and the church's poor condition, St Mary Magdalene church was closed in September 2008 and the congregation transferred to neighbouring Cocking.

Heavy rain failed to dampen spirits.

Climbing up St Ann's Hill

The house on St Ann's Hill. What is highly likely is that Midhurst Castle on St Ann's Hill was built to safeguard the Normans' stronghold in Sussex immediately after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The monument includes the earthworks and ruined walls of a castle dating from the 12th century. The central area of the castle is the artificial mound, or motte, an existing natural prominence which was heightened using rubble. On the motte was built a roughly oval enclosing wall up to 1.7m thick which defined an area 65m north-south by 50m east-west. Backing on to the wall were a number of chambers used for living quarters, kitchens and storage, as well as a small chapel dedicated to St Denis. Quite right too!!!

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Peter led us on a wet and windy walk, (complete with thunder) from Cowdray car park at Easebourne to Glaziers Lane, then across open farm land passing some very friendly ponies, then to Easebourne Street and on to our coffee stop on Fenced Common. Then through Vining Rough back to Easebourne Street where we passed several comical pumpkins, a colourful clump of Nerines and a Victorian commemorative drinking font, finishing at Easebourne church.