Gallery

Viewing galleries from September, 2025

Midhurst Walk on 24th September 2025

After meeting in the Central Car Park in Midhurst, Denis led us just around the corner to admire Philip Jackson's statue of Dante.  The bronze was donated to Midhurst by Jackson to thank the area in which he has lived for many years. Dante, author of the poem "Divine Comedy" is buried in the Italian city of Ravenna, which happens to be twinned with Chichester. After many photographs of this astonishing work of art, we used the Jubilee Path and Bepton Road to reach the start of the common, after passing the Skate park and the Cemetry. A sign indicated the presence of 4 Pest Houses, originally the homes of people suffering from smallpox, founded by Viscount Montague of Cowdray in 1741.  Later this work evolved into a more general charity for local people :- www.pesthouse.org   After a few twists and turns through the Severals, we crossed the A272  to traverse the late Kerry Packers's polo field and then found an ideal stop for the morning refreshment. Back onto Severals Common we took the Serpent Trail and headed south crossing the route of the now dismantled Midhurst to Petersfield railway line. The end of our common walking led us to Bepton Road (again crossing the remains of a railway line - this time the Midhurst to Chichester line) and eventually back to the Central Car Park. We then retired to Kemaellis for a very tasty and well deserved lunch.

Chichester Harbour walk on 17th September 2025

Celia and Miguel gathered us together at the Chichester Marina car park for the start of our 4.1 mile walk around the north bank of the marina following the Saltern Way Cycle path through Salterns Copse, then onto the open fields passing wild flower strips at their edges.  On reaching Dell Quay road, we waited for a school bus to unload before walking down to the quay and having our coffee break sitting on the quay wall.  We retraced our steps a short way to take the Chichester Channel bank path with great views across the channel back to the marina where we crossed the lock and followed the canal edge back to the vehicles.  A short drive to the Woolpack at Fishbourne took us to our excellent lunch.

Liphook walk on 10th September 2025

Pauline and Linda’s 4.1 mile walk started at The Deers Hut Inn in heavy rain which was an accurate portent for the weather on the walk but being suitably clothed we pressed on regardless. We went down the road towards the Old Thorns Estate and took a path into the woods of Holly Hills until we broke out on the heath near Forest Mere. We joined The Sussex Border Path on the edge of heath and woods, crossed the site of a Roman Road, down to Langley where we turned north onto Shipwrights Way. This path in evergreen woodland gave us occasional views across the heath and led us onto MoD land for some of the route. Leaving the MoD area behind us, we came back to the edge of the woods of Holly Hills and the golf course which lead us back to The Deers Hut for our lunch.

Stansted Forest walk on 3rd September 2025

The pre walk had been in balmy warm weather and sunshine; the actual walk threatened 40 mile an hour winds and heavy rain.  Luckily, we only had the rain which started soon after leaving the car park beside The Avenue as we joined the multitude of dog walkers following Monarch’s Way down the wide vista of The Avenue that formed part of the landscaping of Stansted House.  A mile after clambering into our wet weather gear we entered the forest downhill to The Sling near Rowlands Castle where we turned north east to stay in West Sussex and remain in the forest.  This 480 hectare forest is a remnant of the most westerly part of the ancient Forest of Arundel.  We read the tragic story of Norwegian RAF Spitfire pilot, Flight Sergeant Sigurd Gerhardt who lost his life in a crash in the forest in 1942.  The planned coffee break was at a location with a wide bench carved from a tree trunk with a view across the forest.  However, the rain was so bad we elected to huddle under some tree cover for our break before leaving the forest, crossing a field and heading towards Forestside Farm where we crossed the road and walked through Batty's Park, Rosamond’s Hill and Forest Hanger which brought us to the driveway to Stansted House and back to the car park.  We adjourned to the Victoria Inn at West Marden for an excellent lunch.