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Bubble walks on 19th May 2021

Isabel led the walk and we met up in the layby on the A272 just South of Rogate. We walked up the old sunken path, crossed over Fyning Lane, and carried on until we reached the Fyning Hill Estate. We walked through Rondle Wood and then Bordon Wood and then walked through the asparagus fields, admiring the views of the South Downs as we walked. We passed Cumbers Farm and walked along Cumbers Lane, admiring the alpacas on route. After crossing the A272, we passed Terwick Church, although we were unable to see it as it was shrouded with scaffolding. Pauline managed to find one or two solitary lupin flowers, but we need to revisit the field to see them when they are all flowering. The field is now owned by the National Trust on condition that they continue to have lupins growing there. It was lovely to have the sun and no rain, a very enjoyable walk.

Lovely day for a walk

Rondle wood

South Downs in the background.

Fyning

Green Lane.

Footpath through the asparagus field

Harvesting the asparagus

Alpaca farm

Terwick Church under repair

Lupins at Terwick just beginning to show their heads

Walkers, on hearing Isabel may be away next week.

Nice walk.

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This walk started at the Cowdray Cafe in Easebourne where we welcomed 2 guest walkers, Maurice and Celina. We also bumped into Peter's walking group who again had chosen the same start point as us. After skirting the golf course we turned down towards Moor Farm crossing the River Rother at Ambersham Bridge and we were fortunate to find some logs so that we could stop for a coffee. Suitably refreshed we managed to skirt a huge pile of manure that obliterated the footpath before reaching the Selham Road, where we soon turned south to Todham Rough. A walk through the woods took us to the road to the Kennels Dairy (New Lipchis Way). From there it was an easy path past Cowdray Castle to reach Cowdray Cafe which was unfortunately busy when we got there. A pleasant walk of about 5 miles.

Best foot forward above Cowdray House ruins.

Part of an avenue of lime trees

Admiring the Lime trees in Lime Bottom. They were there in 1795.

A mighty sweet chestnut at the entrance to Moor Farm

There's a happy chappy!

A mighty chestnut

Pretty as a picture, to Moor Farm.

Moor Farm in the distance

Tramping through the barley.

Break time

Polo fields and Cowdray ruins from the road to Easebourne

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Peters walk started from Cowdray Cafe a little earlier than the other group. By a series of clever diversions the two groups never met, even though the route was much the same, with Moor Farm, Kennels Dairy and the lower reaches of St Ann's hill all being part of a common route. Finally reaching Cowdray Cafe , they cleverly opted for the quicker service at The Royal Oak.

Magnificent Cowdray House ruins, burnt down in 1793. Someone called Guy Fawkes did work there beforehand, but not believed to be implicated

Silene dioica, known as red campion and red catchfly, (we think!)

Bluebell time

In amongst the barley

Nice weather all morning.

Bubble walks on 12th May 2021

Catherine kindly volunteered to lead a walk near Milland, starting from near the old Post office. We walked past Hollycombe Primary School and up through to the top of Wardley Hanger. After passing Milland House we walked along the top of Great Hanger before turning north to our drinks stop (with seats!) in the grounds of Milland church and the nearby Tuxlith Chapel. Tuxlith Chapel is under the care of The Friends of Friendless Churches. It was probably the main place of worship for the area from the 12th Century, but was found to be too small and replaced by the adjacent St Luke's in 1879. Refreshed we headed south down stone steps of medieval origin above Maysleith House. Across the road (used by Romans travelling between Chichester and Silchester, but not recently) and then a quick look at Milland Place - an enormous building (with an interesting history) in need of some TLC!!. After going through Upper Wardley we passed the very busy playground of Hollycombe School before reaching our parking spot. Some of us then supported the Community Shop back in Milland village. The walk was about 4.1/2 to 5 miles.

The forecast was quite good...

but nobody told the weather about the forecast

but on top of Wardley Hanger, Catherine waved the rain away.

and it worked!

Wardley Hanger

Horse whisperer at work

Tuxlith Chapel looking very well preserved.

Medieval steps, to be taken carefully!

Nearly there.

Pond below Milland Place

Milland Place chimneys, may need some weeding.

About 4.1/2 to 5 miles.

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Starting from the village pond in Buriton, Pauline led a walk uphill going towards Queen Elizabeth Country Park, when reaching the South Downs Way, we used this footpath to Coulters Dean, resisting the delicious looking flapjack left out for passing walkers and cyclists on the way and continued on the undulating paths back into the village, just over four miles in total. On route passing the old chalk quarry now a habitat for many chalk loving plants and wildlife and the old hop fields, another industry that for 150 years had once thrived in Buriton. There is a fascinating village website on the heritage of Buriton - click HERE On this walk we once again welcomed Debbie and Rob who we are very pleased to say will be walking with us regularly.

Buriton Pond

Starting out.

Nice thatch

Old quarry truck

One of several wood carvings along the trail

Looking sheepish.

Refreshments if needed.

Nice gates for Buriton House, built in 1910 by Lothian George Bonham Carter, a Hampshire County Cricketer.

Classy brickwork

Parish Church of St Mary, built between 1150 and 1200.

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Peter’s walk took us around Chichester Marina and onto Birdham Pool Marina, a level walk with no stiles and a fresh sea breeze, an interesting change from woodland walking, about six miles.

Starting from Chichester Marina.

All resting before the coming weekend

A sculpture by??? see next picture

Question answered

I've had my bottom scraped!!

Little egret in hiding

Lovely view across the estuary

Coffee break somewhere?

We were listening to the skylarks-------

---------before crop spraying began.

Waiting for a swan song

Look at our lovely babies

Bubble walks on 5th May 2021

Peter’s walk assembled in Graffham recreation ground car park, we were delighted to find Linda’s walk also assembling, after a brief catch up we moved off in opposite directions. We headed to East Lavington passing through stunning Bluebell and Beech woods, stopping for coffee break in dappled shade, then through Lavington Plantation before heading back to the car park, then for our first walking group lunch in the Royal Oak gardens, a very enjoyable spring walk.

Setting off

Romantic bluebell woods

We were here, there and everywhere

Lovely avenue of beech

Coffee break

Clean looking sign

Interesting door, Aztec perhaps?

John said .... ?

Delightful cowslips

Look at my spots!

Gorgeous view to Graffham Down

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Isabel's report. We met our regulars and two guests, Debbie and Rob, at the car park at West Stoke and walked up the track to the Kingley Vale Nature Reserve. We then walked along the foot of the downs and stopped to watch three hares playing at the top of the hill and then a little further on we paused again to take in the view looking towards Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. We continued with a short stretch along the road towards Funtington before turning off through the pig farm. On reaching the next road, we had our coffee break sitting on logs, just right for social distancing! A detour round the bluebell woods was next on the agenda and the bluebells really were at their best. We returned to the car park to find a man in a van serving coffee, so some of us enjoyed refreshments before going home.

Ready to go!

The Spinnaker Tower was seen by those with good eyesight

Ah, now we know what we're looking at!

Cedar of Lebanon tree

Quickly through the pig farm

Coffee break

Yet more refreshments

The focus of this particular walk today

Everyone's a photographer today!

Beautiful walk almost finished.

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Linda's walk started in Graffham recreation field car park and by great good fortune it happened to be where Peter had decided to start his walk. It was good to meet up with old friends before going our separate directions.

We headed for Seaford College, then walked through the grounds before climbing into the woods at the base of Graffham Down. We headed west before descending into Graffham village with its lovely buildings. Taking a diversion we walked through Tagents, Woodcote and Marsh Farms before heading back to the car park. Some opted for a coffee in the local shop, which was very pleasant.

Seaford college approaches

College entrance

I'm OK with orange socks but not at all happy with yellow ears, said the horse.

Walking through the college

Where do we go now?

Long shadows

Tillington Church from Graffham Down

Petworth House - about 5 miles away beyond the polythene sea.

St Giles Church, Graffham

Just down the road, slightly larger than a bus shelter, is Graffham Congregational Church, no longer in use.

This deer didn't quite know which way to go, but escaped our company eventually.

About 5 miles.

Bubble walks on 28th April 2021

Celia led a beautiful scenic walk of just about four miles, covering parts of the West Sussex Literary Trail and the Monarchs Way walk. On reaching the Goodwood Seven Points we stopped to take in the great view, the flowers and fauna, some memorials and of course have a coffee break. Lots of new born lambs along this popular route, arriving back at Binderton just as the first rain for quite some time started.

Mustering at the start

Mummy's trying to remember the name of those flowers.

But us lambs call them common water crowfoot, lodewort, ram's foot, ram's wort, water anemone or water snowcups.

Climbing up the West Sussex Literary trail.

Plenty of choice

That's the Chichester Cathedral over there!

Resting before the descent.

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Tim and Jane's walk started from the Durleighmarsh Farm Shop car park and then took a walk along the side of the A272 before finding a little used footpath going south. Across a river, through a field until we eventually found the remnants of a bridge once used to carry trains from Petersfield to Midhurst. After following the track for a while we found the side road that passed the Skye Park Farm, soon to be opened up as a visitor attraction and a source of venison.. Deer were plentiful in several fields, until we turned across a field of tiny broad beans plants. After crossing the river we went past the site of the Durford Abbey before crossing the A272 to look at the bluebells. Back in the car park we all enjoyed some refreshment in the cafe. On the walk were 3 brand new members, Geoff and Kathryn from Camelsdale and Catherine from Liss. We also welcomed 2 guest walkers, Andy, Catherine's other half and Bernard, a Midhurst resident.

What are you all doing in MY field?

Remains of the bridge used by Petersfield to Midhurst trains from 1860 until 1955.

Subject to government guidelines...

Plenty of deer around.

Social distancing strictly observed, helped by broad beans.

A stop for drinks on the banks of the Rother.

Site of Durford Abbey, a chequered history from 1161 until 1536 when it was dissolved by the King Henry VIII

Ah, that's better!

Bubble walks on 21st April 2021

Isabel led a lovely walk of four and half miles, starting from Cowdray Farm shop, with a steady climb uphill past Loves farm to Whitter’s Copse, the wild flowers and rape seed fields are just coming into bloom to enhance some stunning views. After a coffee stop it was a gradual downhill back into Easebourne.

Small bubble this week

The Race

Heading for Loves Farm

Why doesn't that horse in the middle just fall over?

Oil seed rape in bloom

Proper seats for a rest

Time for a proper stop

A beautiful day for a ramble.

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Den led the larger than usual group for a ramble over Midhurst common via the newly refurbished skatepark, pausing on Sunset hill before crossing the A272. Once over the river we climbed up the the old Polo grounds before walking through the village and down to Stedham Mill and a welcome drinks break. The route then went along the river Rother to Woolbeding Bridge before finding the A272 once again and dropping down back to The Grange car park. We had a guest walker Wendy with us who is new to Midhurst. The walk was about 5 miles.