Viewing galleries from May, 2019
Mary and Barbara, with some help from Peter, led a very interesting walk from Sutton chuch. This whole area is full of very nice old houses - the area was also very popular in the third century AD with the Romans building a huge villa here, complete with some of the best mosiacs found in Britain. Our walk was across fields from Sutton church, passing through Sutton and Bignor as well as skirting the site of the Bignor Roman Villa. The weather held up for most of the morning but after walking through Bignor Park, at midday we had run out of luck and umbrellas were needed until we returned to our start point. We stopped for lunch in The Badger at Coultershaw Bridge for excellent food and a chance to view some interesting artwork. The walk was a little under 4 miles.
Marian and Linda's walk started in Carron Lane before walking onto Midhurst Common and then crossing the A272 to reach Woolbeding Bridge. The route along the Rother then turned North on the Lipchis Way before heading for Hollist Common and then past Buddington Farm and eventually The White Horse in Easebourne. After a good lunch the walkers had a look at the facilities in the Cowdray estate Walled Garden before walking up to South Pond and back to Carron Lane. It was a lovely walk with ideal weather for a stroll in the country. Many thanks to Pauline for the photos.
Plenty of walkers (17) for Tim and Jane's walk from Grayswood. It was a beautiful day, lots of sun but a slight breeze to keep everyone a little cooler. We started out by walking towards Keffolds Farm after crossing the main railway line and then making our way to High Lane Estate via Weydown Common. After passing through Haslemere town we turned off towards the National Trust's Swan Barn Farm and Hunter Basecamp. We were very fortunate to be allowed a peek inside the eco house, with walls made of hay and also allowed to use their outside seating for coffee. More information at Swan Barn Farm. Refreshed we then walked along a path labelled Mariners Rewe. There is no good reason we can discover why it's called Rewe. There is a village north of Exeter called Rewe which in the Domesday book had Households comprising of 5 villagers, 3 smallholders and 2 slaves. It's bigger now, with hopefully less slaves. Rewe is also an old English spelling of rue (as in sad) apparently, but it still doesn't make sense. After crossing Holdfast Lane we headed for Imbhams Farm before turning towards Grayswood and lunch in The Wheatsheaf.
With rain bucketting down north of Petersfield, Jennifer's walk was very much in doubt. However by the time we had booted up in Compton it had stopped for the day and we walked in very pleasant conditions. We saw more deer near Compton before crossing fields to above West Marden and then walking down to the church at Idsworth. St Huberts Church has many wall paintings dating back to 1330. However, later in that same century the entire village was wiped out by successive episodes of the Plague and all signs of the original Anglo Saxon village have long since been ploughed over. After ducking under the railway line (built in the 1840s) we ascended Chalton Down to reach the Red Lion at Chalton for lunch. Well refreshed, we took a more direct route back to Compton via Cowdown Farm. The walk was about 7.1/2 miles.
Jennifer and Pauline led a delightful walk among the hills and valleys around the Mardens with a total of 19 walkers. We started from West Marden and headed uphill towards Lyecommon but turned towards Watergate House. The original House was built in the 16th Century but destroyed by fire in 1942 and only rebuilt in the latter part of the last century. Some evidence of ancient barns and gardens still exist. From there we went to the copse at Woodbarn, full of wild garlic. Picking is legal and it can be cooked like spinach, but best done before it flowers, using just the leaves. Up the hill to Lyecommon and then across to Watergate Hanger to reach West Marden via Nore Down for some excellent food in The Victoria. Thanks to Lorraine for additional photos - the walk was just over 4.1/2 miles.