Loxwood walk on 27th April 2022

Kathryn and Geoff had volunteered to show us Loxwood, so after gathering in the car park adjacent to the Onslow Arms, we headed north through the back of the village. A stop to hear some of the history of a religious sect called The Society of Dependants was quite revealing. Established in Loxwood with their first chapel in 1861, they believed in no music, alcohol or tobacco, read no books other than the Bible, had no flowers in their houses. Surprisingly they did allow young couples to live together for 2 years, after which they would either separate or marry. The movement spread to several neighbouring villages, but had almost died out by the late 1980's. We had an early coffee stop on some handy furniture somewhere near to Old Songhurst Farm, before turning west towards Alfold. After resisting the temptation to drop in at The Sir Roger Tichborne pub, we crossed the road and headed for Gennetts Bridge Lock on the Wey and Arun Canal. We now took the Wey-South Path back to Loxwood. On the way we met a few of the many volunteers and supporters of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, who have been working since 1970 to re-open the Canal. They have been extraordinarily successful. Sadly a farmer near the canal has allowed an enormous amount of the highly poisonous Giant Hogweed to prosper, to  fill fields and hedgerows along the canal path, but fortunately the Trust  has managed to keep the path safe. We welcomed guest walkers John and Marg on our walk which ended with a good lunch in The Onslow Arms. The walk was about 4.1/2 miles.

Starting out along the canal

Striding out along Spy Lane

Emmanuel Fellowship Church, previously the home of The Society of Dependants, also known as the Cokelers.

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Lovely varieties of tulips along our route

This bird sang to us for much of our coffee stop- probably a cock linnet

Nice seats today!

Gatekeepers on duty

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Gennets Bridge Lock.

Testing the bridge

Now, listen carefully, we're going THAT way.

Heading down the Wey-South Path

Moorhen eggs in the middle of the mud

Parts are navigable but not exactly flowing very much

Devil's Hole Lock

After being used for demolition practice during WW2 by the Canadians, this lock was rebuilt and reopened by April 2010

Appalling amounts of Giant Hogweed - no sign of this poisonous weed being controlled by the landowner

Early Purple Orchid likes the mud of the canal

Onslow Arms served us well, and took photos!

• ← Fittleworth Morning and Day walk 20th April 2022
• Duncton walk 4th May 2022 →