Gallery

-

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.

---

Midhurst walk 15th January 2025

Ten of us met up at the North Car Park in Midhurst for our 5.25 mile walk attempting to avoid deep puddles and mud.  The cold and overcast skies did not dampen our spirits walking down The Causeway towards Cowdray Ruins, crossing the Rother and heading up towards The Cowdray Café.  Turning off the unmade road before we could break off for refreshments and staying on The Sussex Diamond Way we crossed fields and the main road to take the permissive path through the woods beside the golf course staying parallel to the road.  Crossing back over the main road we walked down the driveway to Moor Farm, turned left onto the track up to Ambersham Bridge where we stopped for our coffee break.  Having warmed our innards, we crossed The Rother and took the footpath across the flood meadow which was squelchy but firm enough until we gained higher ground on the raised bank.  Crossing the field with sheep was made more entertaining by having to step over the electric fence across the footpath, and spilled out onto Selham Road heading to the entrance for Cowdray House.  At the corner we carried on up the hill to Kennels Dairy that now houses the Cowdray Works Department arriving at the end of The Wharf where we followed the bank of The Rother back to The Causeway and a change of footwear.  An enjoyable lunch was had at Fratelli’s on West Street to finish off.

---

Thursley walk on 8th January 2025

Quite a few members were still on holiday resulting in a small group of eight being led by Jay and Lindsay on the 5.5 mile walk starting at The Three Horseshoes in Thursley.  We stayed briefly on the road before turning north onto the common, enjoying the views across the heath, greeting the dog walkers and skirting the puddles.  A fallen tree across the path gave us the chance to try out a Christmas gift.  Entering the Scots Pine wooded area, we came out by The Moat, turning onto the open heath to Pudmore Pond towards Elstead Common where a fallen tree provided a resting place for us to have our coffee break.  Southbound at the edge of Ockley Common took us down towards Warren Mere where the original route was changed due to the mud and water so we took a parallel route beside Thursley National Nature Reserve weaving our way past the heather back to the pub to enjoy the log burner and lunch.

---

Midhurst walk 18th December 2024

We marked the last walk of 2024 with a 4.5 mile stroll around Midhurst, led by Tim and Jane and welcomed a very occasional walker who we hope will have more time for leisure and less work in the future!  From the north car park along North Street to June Lane where we turned onto a little used path cutting through to the Petersfield Road.  Turning into Carron Lane we met another friend that used to walk with us and once mended, may well walk once again. We then crossed the recreation ground where some gymnastic manoeuvres were relived and onto Midhurst Common.  Climbing up to the viewpoint we enjoyed the views over the wetlands with the South Downs in the distance.  Having sated ourselves on the ocular feast, we wound our way through the common and Sandy Lane, crossed the Petersfield Road into the fields opposite where we joined the New Lipchis Way and stopped for coffee, a Christmas imbibe polished off with an assortment of Stollen and chocolates.  At the crest of the hill we passed a foley and reached the banks of the River Rother which we followed back to Midhurst and onto the Cowdray ruins.  The final leg along the Causeway took us back to the car park for a quick change in time for lunch at the very hospitable Kemælli’s where we engaged in a birthday celebration with an excellent cake.

---

West Dean walk on 11th December 2024

Jay and Lindsay kindly stepped in to take over the absent Bernard's walk from The Selsey Arms. We felt it would be a good spot for our Christmas Lunch after an earlier visit in October. Very pleased to say we were not dissapointed. Starting out from the car park we headed up towards Warren Hanger but after crossing a field entered Whitedown Plantation. The path here was very much upwards through the woods but at last we reached the top and had the reward of a walk down through a field to Hylter's Lane. Beyond Hylter's Farm we headed south until we reached some conveniently placed logs at the entrance to Lodge Hill Farm. The opportunity to have a drink and rest was irresistable. Shortly after we came upon a large chalk ball sitting in the hedgerow and after much discussion decided we did not have a clue about how it got there. It turns out it is much more modern than anticipated. If you need to know the answer, search for :-

 https://www.gravelroots.net/sdwchalkstones.html 

We carried on, eventually reaching the Warren Hanger and Hightown Plantation, our route taking us past another chalk ball and under the old Midhurst to Chichester railway line. Crossing the road we took a back route past West Dean College to eventully return to the Selsey Arms where we were delighted to meet up with some long-time members of the club. Pauline had organized a Secret Santa so as well as a delightful lunch, we also went home with an early Christmas present.

---

• Page 1 of 94
• ←
• 1
• 2
• 3
• →