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Viewing galleries from May, 2021

Bubble walks on 26th May 2021

Starting from Woolbeding car park Pauline led a walk to the Severals and on to Stedham Common, crossing the A272 to Iping bridge, a good example of a 16th-17th century multi-span bridge with five arches. Following the river Rother through Stedham over more ancient bridges back to Woolbeding. An enjoyable walk of just over five miles.

The Heathlands Sculpture Trail with sandstone carvings.

Anything need watering?

Iping Bridge

It all looked lovely today.

Stedham Bridge

Blooming lovely

Stedham Hall

A coffeee break after 4 miles

Swanning around on the River Rother

Time for a chat

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Denis led a walk from the outskirts of Milland and we were delighted to welcome Jean and Peter's group to our walk. With good weather it made a change from the rain of previous days. After circling Marsh Wood (which was still a bit damp!) we headed across glorious countryside to reach our coffee spot, just short of Maysleith House. Refreshed and after a quiz on a previous owner of Maysleith, we followed up with a couple of poems by Betjeman. After passing the house we headed along below Maysleith Hanger before entering Maysleith Wood and eventually passing Combeland Farm. After passing Combe Pond we cut across country to the south of Great Tippetts Farm. The Farm is owned by the Marquess of Milford Haven and his wife, Lady Milford Haven, but unfortunately we had no time to stop by and say hello. After about 4.1/2 miles we were then ready to seek refreshment back in Milland village.

Starting out

Don't turn your back, look at me, look at me!!

Ah, that's better.

Getting some timely advice about wood cutters at work ahead.

Blue Mint Beetles were first recorded in the UK in 2011. The first sightings were from the Kent area. Now they've dispersed further inland and have become well-established in South England. Peak activity is from April to June.

Pretty as a picture

Coffee stop tales

Miss J. Hunter Dunn, Miss J. Hunter Dunn,

Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun,

What strenuous singles we played after tea,

We in the tournament - you against me!

Maysleith

Below Maysleith Hanger

Bugle, of the mint family aka Ajuga reptans. Also known as Carpenters Herb. It was a popular ingredient in herbal remedies, particularly for stopping bleeding.

Just having a natter.

Striding out

Passing Great Tippetts Farm.

Walk end, cars are around the corner.

About 4 miles

Bubble walks on 19th May 2021

Isabel led the walk and we met up in the layby on the A272 just South of Rogate. We walked up the old sunken path, crossed over Fyning Lane, and carried on until we reached the Fyning Hill Estate. We walked through Rondle Wood and then Bordon Wood and then walked through the asparagus fields, admiring the views of the South Downs as we walked. We passed Cumbers Farm and walked along Cumbers Lane, admiring the alpacas on route. After crossing the A272, we passed Terwick Church, although we were unable to see it as it was shrouded with scaffolding. Pauline managed to find one or two solitary lupin flowers, but we need to revisit the field to see them when they are all flowering. The field is now owned by the National Trust on condition that they continue to have lupins growing there. It was lovely to have the sun and no rain, a very enjoyable walk.

Lovely day for a walk

Rondle wood

South Downs in the background.

Fyning

Green Lane.

Footpath through the asparagus field

Harvesting the asparagus

Alpaca farm

Terwick Church under repair

Lupins at Terwick just beginning to show their heads

Walkers, on hearing Isabel may be away next week.

Nice walk.

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This walk started at the Cowdray Cafe in Easebourne where we welcomed 2 guest walkers, Maurice and Celina. We also bumped into Peter's walking group who again had chosen the same start point as us. After skirting the golf course we turned down towards Moor Farm crossing the River Rother at Ambersham Bridge and we were fortunate to find some logs so that we could stop for a coffee. Suitably refreshed we managed to skirt a huge pile of manure that obliterated the footpath before reaching the Selham Road, where we soon turned south to Todham Rough. A walk through the woods took us to the road to the Kennels Dairy (New Lipchis Way). From there it was an easy path past Cowdray Castle to reach Cowdray Cafe which was unfortunately busy when we got there. A pleasant walk of about 5 miles.

Best foot forward above Cowdray House ruins.

Part of an avenue of lime trees

Admiring the Lime trees in Lime Bottom. They were there in 1795.

A mighty sweet chestnut at the entrance to Moor Farm

There's a happy chappy!

A mighty chestnut

Pretty as a picture, to Moor Farm.

Moor Farm in the distance

Tramping through the barley.

Break time

Polo fields and Cowdray ruins from the road to Easebourne

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Peters walk started from Cowdray Cafe a little earlier than the other group. By a series of clever diversions the two groups never met, even though the route was much the same, with Moor Farm, Kennels Dairy and the lower reaches of St Ann's hill all being part of a common route. Finally reaching Cowdray Cafe , they cleverly opted for the quicker service at The Royal Oak.

Magnificent Cowdray House ruins, burnt down in 1793. Someone called Guy Fawkes did work there beforehand, but not believed to be implicated

Silene dioica, known as red campion and red catchfly, (we think!)

Bluebell time

In amongst the barley

Nice weather all morning.

Bubble walks on 12th May 2021

Catherine kindly volunteered to lead a walk near Milland, starting from near the old Post office. We walked past Hollycombe Primary School and up through to the top of Wardley Hanger. After passing Milland House we walked along the top of Great Hanger before turning north to our drinks stop (with seats!) in the grounds of Milland church and the nearby Tuxlith Chapel. Tuxlith Chapel is under the care of The Friends of Friendless Churches. It was probably the main place of worship for the area from the 12th Century, but was found to be too small and replaced by the adjacent St Luke's in 1879. Refreshed we headed south down stone steps of medieval origin above Maysleith House. Across the road (used by Romans travelling between Chichester and Silchester, but not recently) and then a quick look at Milland Place - an enormous building (with an interesting history) in need of some TLC!!. After going through Upper Wardley we passed the very busy playground of Hollycombe School before reaching our parking spot. Some of us then supported the Community Shop back in Milland village. The walk was about 4.1/2 to 5 miles.

The forecast was quite good...

but nobody told the weather about the forecast

but on top of Wardley Hanger, Catherine waved the rain away.

and it worked!

Wardley Hanger

Horse whisperer at work

Tuxlith Chapel looking very well preserved.

Medieval steps, to be taken carefully!

Nearly there.

Pond below Milland Place

Milland Place chimneys, may need some weeding.

About 4.1/2 to 5 miles.

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Starting from the village pond in Buriton, Pauline led a walk uphill going towards Queen Elizabeth Country Park, when reaching the South Downs Way, we used this footpath to Coulters Dean, resisting the delicious looking flapjack left out for passing walkers and cyclists on the way and continued on the undulating paths back into the village, just over four miles in total. On route passing the old chalk quarry now a habitat for many chalk loving plants and wildlife and the old hop fields, another industry that for 150 years had once thrived in Buriton. There is a fascinating village website on the heritage of Buriton - click HERE On this walk we once again welcomed Debbie and Rob who we are very pleased to say will be walking with us regularly.

Buriton Pond

Starting out.

Nice thatch

Old quarry truck

One of several wood carvings along the trail

Looking sheepish.

Refreshments if needed.

Nice gates for Buriton House, built in 1910 by Lothian George Bonham Carter, a Hampshire County Cricketer.

Classy brickwork

Parish Church of St Mary, built between 1150 and 1200.

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Peter’s walk took us around Chichester Marina and onto Birdham Pool Marina, a level walk with no stiles and a fresh sea breeze, an interesting change from woodland walking, about six miles.

Starting from Chichester Marina.

All resting before the coming weekend

A sculpture by??? see next picture

Question answered

I've had my bottom scraped!!

Little egret in hiding

Lovely view across the estuary

Coffee break somewhere?

We were listening to the skylarks-------

---------before crop spraying began.

Waiting for a swan song

Look at our lovely babies

Bubble walks on 5th May 2021

Peter’s walk assembled in Graffham recreation ground car park, we were delighted to find Linda’s walk also assembling, after a brief catch up we moved off in opposite directions. We headed to East Lavington passing through stunning Bluebell and Beech woods, stopping for coffee break in dappled shade, then through Lavington Plantation before heading back to the car park, then for our first walking group lunch in the Royal Oak gardens, a very enjoyable spring walk.

Setting off

Romantic bluebell woods

We were here, there and everywhere

Lovely avenue of beech

Coffee break

Clean looking sign

Interesting door, Aztec perhaps?

John said .... ?

Delightful cowslips

Look at my spots!

Gorgeous view to Graffham Down

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Isabel's report. We met our regulars and two guests, Debbie and Rob, at the car park at West Stoke and walked up the track to the Kingley Vale Nature Reserve. We then walked along the foot of the downs and stopped to watch three hares playing at the top of the hill and then a little further on we paused again to take in the view looking towards Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. We continued with a short stretch along the road towards Funtington before turning off through the pig farm. On reaching the next road, we had our coffee break sitting on logs, just right for social distancing! A detour round the bluebell woods was next on the agenda and the bluebells really were at their best. We returned to the car park to find a man in a van serving coffee, so some of us enjoyed refreshments before going home.

Ready to go!

The Spinnaker Tower was seen by those with good eyesight

Ah, now we know what we're looking at!

Cedar of Lebanon tree

Quickly through the pig farm

Coffee break

Yet more refreshments

The focus of this particular walk today

Everyone's a photographer today!

Beautiful walk almost finished.

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Linda's walk started in Graffham recreation field car park and by great good fortune it happened to be where Peter had decided to start his walk. It was good to meet up with old friends before going our separate directions.

We headed for Seaford College, then walked through the grounds before climbing into the woods at the base of Graffham Down. We headed west before descending into Graffham village with its lovely buildings. Taking a diversion we walked through Tagents, Woodcote and Marsh Farms before heading back to the car park. Some opted for a coffee in the local shop, which was very pleasant.