Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Alice Holt Forest walk on 24th January 2024

Sixteen of us met up in the carpark of The Bluebell pub in Dockenfield for our 4.3 mile walk in Alice Holt Forest. We walked down Boundary Road towards Three Ways, entering the forest in the South East corner. The level but slightly muddy path took us to the junction of Shipwrights Way and the Easy Access Trail which lived up to its name as we walked it, linking up to the Willows Green Trail. Opting to return to the Shipwrights Trail, crossing a stream and using the Lodge Pond and Habitat Trails past a tubular sculpture where we controlled our impulses to climb through, eventually turning left along a muddy path to pick up the Old Stagecoach Road. Our coffee stop was beside the Old Stagecoach Road on a couple of perfectly placed benches cheered up by an early bloom primrose and a static Robin that probably had bedecked a Christmas Tree earlier. Failing to meet any menacing gentlemen in tricorned hats brandishing antique flintlock hardware, we left the Stagecoach Road to take the Family Cycle Trail heading back towards our lunch. Unfortunately before we completed our circuit in the forest, a lame incident required a short backtrack to Boundary Road and The Bluebell where the healing aspects of beer set to work and we enjoyed a hearty lunch.

Best feet forward

First stream we came across

No need to be ashamed of that joke, the ladies thought it was funny

Taking the path less trod

Everyone ploughing their own furrow

Forest colours at their best

Primrose braving the frosts

Look, a tame bird joining us for our coffee break

Coffee break

Do you think it would go nicely in a sandwich with some mayonnaise?

Photographing a not so tame bird

Enticing the catkins

Larking around at the crossroads

Going head to head in the goat curry trophy competition

Enjoying lunch at The Bluebell

About 4.3/4 miles

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