Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Rake walk on 10th April 2024

The 4.7 mile walk started at The Flying Bull pub at Rake, but the pre walk revealed the last third of the walk was too wet and muddy so had to be changed which meant the first time it was walked was on the real event.  We crossed the old A3 and picked up the Serpent Trail outside the old post office building with the royal coat of arms carved in the façade stone and stayed on it, coming into Rake Hanger.  We walked the length of the ancient woodland which is a Site of Scientific Interest coming out onto a road to cross following the Serpent Trail through the Combe Hill mountain bike assault course.  The drops, jumps and turns seemed insane to us although a few walkers admitted they may have been tempted when they were younger.  Another road crossing kept us on the Serpent Trail through woodland where an inviting tree trunk beckoned our attention for our coffee break.  Rain tried to dampen our spirits at this time but did not hang around for long.  A left turn took us off the Serpent Trail through a fenced footpath on the Fyning Hill Estate down through mud and puddles to Harting Combe Road which we endured until we could head north across a field and into woodland, eventually skirting the east bank of Combe Pond.  We discharged onto Canhouse Lane which took us back to The Flying Bull and a very tasty lunch for us all.

All fresh at the start

Having a chat in the Hanger

Rake Hanger

Pulling out a stuck walker

On the look out for flying mountain bikes at Combe Hill

Where did everyone go all of a sudden?

We’ll ignore the bike trails and stick with the Serpent Trail

The litter bug clean up crew

The coffee log

Oh no, looks like mud!

Yes, definitely mud and lots of it

You need to concentrate to spot the subtle directions

Clambering over the first stile

All together again

You said there was no more mud!

Combe Pond

The Combe Pond loiterers

Hanging around

I bet you could not swim over to there

This is the bridge of smiles, not sighs

Lunch at The Flying Bull

Route of the walk starting at Rake

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