Gallery

Viewing galleries from January, 2023

Rogate walk on 25th January 2023

John and Barbara had a poor day to lead their walk, with cold and icy conditions combined with fog. In spite of the conditions we all had a very enjoyable walk and also welcomed a guest walker, Beverly from Midhurst. Starting out from the Rogate Village Hall car park, we headed north to Fyning Common before crossing the road to Fyning Hill. The walk along Rondle Wood usually produces glimpses of fine views over towards Milland but we could only see the field below! A hunt then began for a suitable coffee stop, but no benches were available so we rested on some fallen trees and branches. At Borden Cross crossroads we turned down Cumber's Lane, finding some early snowdrops at the bottom, to be followed by more early blooms outside the Church in Terwick. Crossing fields we reached Fyning and from there we were soon back in our cars after about 4 miles. We then had lunch at the Sky Park Farm where we had the pleasure of meeting up with some other Footpath Companions. It was quite busy and we had some concern our large group would cause a problem but the staff managed to serve some very nice food in a very efficient manner.

Leaving Rogate village

Good job someone knows the way!

Esteemed walk leaders

"Look, just over there are the South Downs - no sign of the Spinnaker Tower at the moment!"

Fyning Wood

Did the barber run out of time?

Choccy time.

Cumber's Lane

Alpacas next to Cumber's Lane

Early snowdrops hiding in the hedge

Brief spell on what used to be the A272

More flowers near the church

St Peter's Church, 12th Century.

Plenty of ice still in the fields

Sad Pumpkins well past their sell-by date.

Sky Park Farm deer

Happy walkers needing feeding

Lurgashall walk on 18th January 2023

The 5.3 mile walk was led by Sally with expert pre walk preparation from Lurgashall. The name Lurgashall means Hall of Leotegar. Leotegar was a Saxon who settled on the site in around 495 AD. His descendants built St Laurence’s Church, which is beside where we started the walk. There had been a heavy frost during the night with all walkers prepared for some good scenery and the odd bit of impromptu skating. Starting at The Noah’s Ark Inn, which is said to have acquired its unusual name because patrons crossing the pond outside the door gave the impression of animals crossing into the Ark. The pond is long gone so we walked on terra firma across the green, past the village shop and down Mill Lane when we took a short cut across some meadows. This meadow was the site of our first synchronised slips, but both participants bravely returned to the fray. Returning to Mill Lane, a right turn took us to Mill Pond where we were impressed by the ducks swimming around the ice, and a natural ice stalactite sculpture. At Mill Farm we crossed fields towards Lickfold but turned north west before we got there so we could see if The Three Horse Shoes (aka The Lickfold Inn) would tempt us to stop. It was too early to succumb so we skated across the ice on the road on Lickfold Road. A left turn took us east across fields, woods and across a stream eventually arriving at Hoewyck Farm and onto the Lickfold Road again where Kathryn demonstrated her Dancing on Ice moves with a terrific recovery. We stopped for a coffee break at a thoughtfully placed bench and table on Upperfold Farm where the generous owner had given Sally her permission to stop there. After coffee we headed north east across meadows, through woods, across streams to the edge of The Blackdown Estate down to Jobsons Lane by the site of what had been the Lurgashall Winery. We stopped and talked with a local tree surgeon and wood sculptor who was sculpting a family crest by eye out of an old ash tree stump. Heading west across Windfallwood Common we turned south through Spring Coppice to view the spire of St Laurence’s Church and into The Noah’s Ark for a well earned and delicious lunch and banter.

All checks complete, and we’re off

Enjoying the sunshine and frost

Crossing the meadow

So this is the mounting block but where is the horse?

The intrepid team

Swimming around the ice.

The ice sculpture Sally prepared earlier for us

Clear blue sunny sky and hard frost

OK, we're going that way

Walk on the edge or break the ice?

Dancing on Ice, and now for the triple somersault

Coffee break

It’s easier getting on a horse I can assure you

The home straight with St Laurence’s spire over the apple orchard

Lunch at The Noah’s Ark

About 5.3 miles

Unfortunately some walkers were unable to get to the Noah's Ark in time.

Stedham walk on 11th January 2023

The year has certainly got off to a wet start. Pauline's walk was mostly on sandy terrain but that didn't mean we didn't have to do some puddle jumping. After meeting in Stedham at the Hamilton Arms we set off to cross the A272 to reach Stedham Commom where we joined the Serpent Trail for a short distance. We left the Serpent trail where it crosses a Roman Road - however, the lack of chariots meant we were quite oblivious to this piece of history. Fitzhall Heath and Plantation were followed by Fitzhall itself, which consists of 2 or 3 cottages in amongst some farmland. Shortly after we passed the remains of a giant sandpit, not visible at all but in any case we were busy navigating a long stretch of waterlogged path, fortunately bordered by some dense rhododendron with dry tunnels amongst the foliage. Our route then meandered through the Severals before crossing the A272 once again and then onto the Polo Field constructed by Kerry Packer. Through the village and we were once again at the Hamilton Arms where we enjoyed some very good Thai food.

Setting out

Stedham Common proved challenging in places

Luckily this wasn't the path

Some boots are made for walking, especially wellingtons!

Fitzhall Heath

Thank goodness, no water here.

Coffee stop, let's find some biscuits

A Rother contributory needed crossing

Splendid effort to get a good spot for a shot

But not a good spot for a swim

The Warren proved even more testing for those of a shorter stature

"What's going on down there?"

What is it?

Probably an Earthball and very poisonous!

Nothing poisonous in here - back in The Hamilton Arms

Nice carrot - far too nice to eat.

About 5 miles.

Hawkley walk on 4th January 2023

Conditions were damp underfoot in places but the weather was good for Jay's amble around Hawkley. The walk started out heading roughly north to reach Standfast Lane and then on to the scattered houses of Empshott (in the fifteenth century it was ascertained by an inquisition taken in 1428 that Empshott was one of the Hampshire parishes in which there were not ten in-habitants holding houses Feud. Aids, ii, 342 - nothing much has changed since then!). The old church there, the Church of the Holy Rood dates from 12th century and has had many rebuilds ever since. It is unusual in having a leaded glass belltower and inside are two bells dating from 1627 and 1897. After having a drinks break in the churchyard we walked on to the Hangers Way in the shadow of Noah Hill before turning south to return to Hawkley village. An enjoyable lunch followed in the Hawkley Inn. The walk was just below 5.1/2 miles.