Gallery

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Duncton walk on 19th February 2025

Thankfully Jay and Lindsay had spent much time to sort out our ramble in Duncton so that we avoided most of the mud caused by the recent poor weather. After parking in The Cricketers (once owned by the creator of Wisden Cricketers' Almanac), we headed for the Burton Park Estate. Burton Park Estate, which dates from the 13th Century contains a Grade 1 listed mansion with a chequered history. Once home to a Baronet, then an MP, it became an Army Camp, a girls school, a police dog-training centre and is now split into flats.  We then took a route around the  House and Burton Mill Pond, much of which is surrounded by marshy areas, luckily navigable over large wooden boardwalks. We were also fortunate to find a handy tree for our coffee stop. As we passed by the House again we took a look inside the tiny Church of St Richards. Of Norman origin it was updated in 1636 by Bishop Juxon who was so trusted by Charles I that he was the man to offer the King his last rites 13 years later - luckily we had no need for his services. A little further on we came across another church - the Church of St Anthony and Saint George but sadly all the doors were locked so we could only wander around the gravestones. Even so we missed the headstone inscribed "The originator and leader of the women's suffrage march from Edinburgh to London 1912", Florence de Fonblanque.  A walk alongside the A285 and we eventually found our cars and drove to The Badgers for some excellent food.

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Hooksway walk on 12th February 2024

Hooksway walk report is temporarily stranded in the North Sea (or should it be called the Dutch, German or English Sea?). Normal service will be resumed shortly. In the meantime, here are some snaps.

If you want to know who Alfie was, have a read here:-  Hooksway History

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Rogate walk on 5th February 2025

Isabel led our walk of just over 4 miles having pre walked it and modified it a number of times due to the mud.  Setting off from The Jolly Drover at Hill Brow near Liss we crossed the road onto Rogate Common walking through the woodland to Commonside where we saw a Robin and a squirrel diving under the eaves of an outhouse.  Isabel had seen deer here on the pre walk, but we made too much noise and must have scared them away.  The path across the field with the remains of corn stalks was clear and firm under foot with a surprise of snowdrops as we made our way onto the local roads and up towards Rogate Lodge where we stopped for our coffee break taking the benefit of low walls to sit.  We made our way back into the woods of Rogate Common climbing slowly, crossed the Hill Brow to Borden road, back into the woods dropping down the hill to Tullecombe where we picked up the Serpent Trail, following the slope of Combe Hill marvelling at the insane twists, drops and jumps for the mountain bike courses that crossed our path.  We made our way back to The Jolly Drover where our lunch was excellent.

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Chichester walk on 29th January 2025

With very wet weather forecast later in the morning, Pauline and Linda wisely chose to limit our walk and to be within safe shelter should the need arise. In fact the rain was very late and umbrellas were redundant. We started from the Cattle market car park and headed to a spot next to the old Shiphams Paste building. From this point the Romans built an almost straight road called Stane Street all the way to London Bridge. Luckily London Bridge was not on our agenda so we went along the city walls to find the old Gunpowder Store. Beyond this point is Priory Park, home to a Franciscan Chancel, now the Guildhall. Also in this park is a huge mound of earth, now protected by some chestnut fencing. Originally it was far larger and higher and surmounted by a castle built by the Normans to demonstrate to the conquered English that they had lost the Battle of Hastings. The walk along the tops of the  walls was interrupted at Northgate by North Street, however we soon gained our privileged position  as we travelled West along the wall tops. Once we reached Westgate roundabout we headed for the magnificent Chichester Cathedral and our coffee stop.  Suitably refreshed we had a look at the Bishop's Palace Gardens and even in mid winter there were some blooms to admire. We left the walled city to travel through the streets of modern Chichester to once again find the car park, change shoes and head to the Nags Head for an excellent lunch.

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West Lavington walk on 22nd January 2025

Jo and Mark’s misty 4.8 mile walk started at The Greyhound on Chichester Road, crossing into Cocking Causeway and up Dunford Hollow.  A brief stop at the Richard Cobden Memorial Obelisk reminded us of the local lad that became a successful businessman and prominent politician whose work contributed to the repeal of the Corn Laws amongst other successes.  We crossed the clear running Coster’s Brook and Dunford House that Richard Cobden finished rebuilding in 1853 with activities looking like it is undergoing more building work today.  Following the Serpent Trail onto Heyshott Common, we left the official Trail at the old railway bridge over the disused Midhurst to Pulborough railway line where we stopped for our coffee break and the celebration of three birthdays with a tuneful happy birthday rendition.  We then walked through the plantation on Todham Rough to come out onto Stedham Road, which we stayed on towards West Lavington before peeling off to Oaklands Lane, past The Royal Oak and back to The Greyhound for our well-deserved lunch and refreshments.

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