Gallery

Viewing galleries from November, 2023

Heyshott walk on 29th November 2023

After gathering at The Unicorn we went inside to order our food. Jay and Lindsay then led us up the road past Berrywood Farm towards Heyshott Green where we stopped to pose for a photo. It was a little chilly but the sun tried its hardest to stay with us most of the morning. We encountered our first mud challenge just past Walkers Farm and another as we picked up the Serpent Trail route past the Goldballs Plantation. This took us to the old bridge over the route of the Midhurst to Pulborough railway. The line opened in 1866, was never very busy and closed to passenger traffic in 1955 and to goods traffic in 1966.

The route through Heyshott common proved challenging in parts but we ploughed on, keen to find some suitable logs to rest our legs and have a food and drink break. The logs were not ideal but sufficed for a few minutes. Refreshed, we reached New Road which gave some dry and secure walking which was good, apart from an occasional motorist. It also was a good viewing spot to observe 3 deer on Heyshott Common. They clearly thought if they stood very still, they would be invisible, but some of us could see through their attempted deception. After passing through the hamlet of Hoyle, we crossed our last stream-bed of the day before picking up the New Lipchis Way to guide us back to The Unicorn for an excellent lunch.

Harting Hill Long Walk on 17th November 2023

A small band of eight congregated at the Harting Hill car park for our 13 mile walk led by Jay and Lindsay. The weather was sunny, bucking the trend of cloud and rain on previous days. To warm us up we were led up Beacon Hill where we paused to get our breath back, then enjoying a downhill stretch to Hooksway past the Royal Oak which sadly was closed. Climbing up Phillis Wood through the woods, crossing Gutteridge Row down to the abandoned medieval village of Monkton. At this point two of our walkers peeled off as the remainder continued south east stopping to trim some bramble and settle a log to sit on for our coffee break. The banter flowed with lots of laughter scaring off any wildlife. At Staple Farm we turned north east through Westdean Woods where we used the sunny rustic log seating and table for our lunch. Continuing up the hill to the South Downs Way we turned west across the Downs, Winden Wood and Philliswood Down. We paused at the Devil’s Jumps before continuing on to Pen Hill where some of us slowed on the ascent including the detour up Beacon Hill with the final limp home to the car park. Celebration of our successful completion took place at The White Hart in South Harting where we sampled some blistering fried chillies before selecting more mundane and less fiery fodder.

Shackleford Walk on 22nd November 2023

With a glorious sunrise for the early risers, things could only go downhill for the walk start. Tim and Jane's walk started from the Old Cyder House in Shackleford, but the pub car park had a chain across it, which made parking difficult. However we eventually found spots to squeeze into and we set off for the walk. Opposite the pub are the splendid grounds of Aldro School, for day pupils and boarders. It originated in Eastbourne in 1877 but moved to Shackleford in 1940, felt to be a safer spot at the time. Crossing some fields we passed Lydling Farm before we had to tackle the water hazard. Fortunately not too bad on the day, we all managed to cross this River Wey tributary without getting wet feet. After a special exercise walking up steep steps and back down again, we found the right path to take us to the magnificent Rodsall Manor, purchased for £2M in 2000. Since then it has been the correspondence address for a number of Investment Companies and Banks. From there we walked towards Cuttmill Ponds and stopped for a coffee stop in the woods, just before some houses. One of these had some beautiful ironwork gates, designed by the owner, who also is a world-renowned car designer. Cuttmill pond was just around the corner, with plenty of life both above and below the surface, including a solitary heron. From there we headed for the village of Gatwick (not that one....) and then into Mitchen Hall Woods to eventually get back for lunch at The Cyder House. Luckily there was no chain across the entrance this time. The walk was a bit less than 5 miles.

Benbow pond walk on 15th November 2023

We answered Isabel’s call to a local 4 mile walk from Benbow Pond to make the most of the limited sunshine this week. The ducks swam and quacked while we assembled in our walking attire and headed north to pick up a short section of the Sussex Diamond Way past Steward’s Pond and up a little valley where the yellow and copper leaves on the trees were lit up by the sun. Crossing the golf course in a shallow hollow we could not resist the temptation to ring the warning bell to let the golfing fraternity know we were there. We crossed The Race onto Easebourne Street walking uphill to Lower Vining, stopping for a standing coffee break in the sunshine. The climb continued up to Vining Common where we turned for the downhill return, skirting around Heathend Copse and the permissive path to New Barn with a view to the Elizabeth Oak Tree on our right and back to our start. We went back to Midhurst to enjoy our lunch at Red H on North Street.

Liphook walk on 8th November 2023

Kathryn and Geoff Noah did not know what they let themselves in for when they volunteered to lead this walk. The rain fell in biblical proportions and we were concerned as to which of the skills our leaders were going to exhibit that were previously demonstrated by a certain bearded gentlemen whose connections forced the waters to part, but whose map reading skills were a bit suspect leading to a 40 year detour, but eventually led his followers to the promised land. We need not have worried as their lateral thinking took us away from most of the floods, their map reading was spot on and they lead us to two welcome and timely destinations. Having rowed into the car park of the Deer Hut pub in Liphook, donned our lifejackets and assorted and hopefully weatherproof gear, we set off on the pavement down Longmoor Road to Liphook. Having discovered the rain was proving more than a match for some weather gear we took a recuperative stop under cover at the café Number One The Square. Availing ourselves of a variety of Tea Cakes, Victoria Sponges and assorted hot beverages we took as much time as we thought we could get away with before heading off down the old A3 until we reached the Links Tavern where we started on the Shipwrights Way, which felt entirely appropriate. The Shipwrights Way proved to be plain sailing straight back to the Deer Hut pub where we were treated to an excellent lunch together with four members who were much wiser and opted for the lunch only.