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Viewing galleries from March, 2020

Lovedean to Hambledon Day Walk 11th March 2020

Den's walk started from Lovedean and was partly on minor roads to avoid some very muddy fields. The rain did not appear but the wind seemed to blow all day. Interesting walk with a variety of woods and fields and a few animals along the way.

A couple of red kites soared above, fallow deer were seen in the distance and skylarks were heard but not seen. The fields didn't seem to be growing anything - the wet weather we have been having for months has put paid to that. Even the livestock farmers are feeling the pinch. However as walkers we were able to reach Hambledon for a well deserved lunch with muddy boots but not muddy socks! Many houses seemed to be pumping out their cellars out but no flood water was visible in the village. The return trip  started with a steep uphill road but with excellent views over Hambledon. A beautiful area for our return trip, spolit by barbed wire on stiles in one particular spot on the Monarch's Way. The walk was about 7.1/2 miles in total.

Hunston Canal Morning Walk 4th March 2020

On a somewhat cold and drizzly morning a happy band of 9 walkers left the pub car park heading for the New Lipchis Way footpath, so named because it runs 39 miles from Liphook to Chichester Harbour. Pauline our leader for the day, must have had this in mind when she led us towards the harbour, oops wrong way, fortunately we were soon heading correctly back to Hunston bridge.   The view from the bridge looking towards Chichester with the Cathedral in the background was painted in 1828 by JMW Turner.     

We cheered canoe rowers on as they went under the bridge beneath us. Continuing along the canal path towards the basin where we stopped for a coffee break, some also had a quick look in the new Canal Heritage Centre. By then the rain had settled in to stay so we made our way back, not on the route planned but nevertheless an interesting and easy canal side walk. We were fortunate to have spotted a beautiful deer on the opposite bank at the edge of the water, Mallards pairing up, Moorhens doing what Moorhens do or were they Coots? Swans swimming and even a pair of large Carp swam beside us as we walked along. The passengers keeping dry on the Kingfisher Canal boat waved to us with our hoods and umbrellas up, enjoying nature at its best, seen in the lovely photos taken by Barbara. Just over four miles and we were back at the Spotted Cow for a much needed lunch and a few chocolates.