Gallery

Viewing galleries from April, 2024

Suttton and Bignor walk 24th April 2024

Sally promised us a walk of 4.9 miles of woodland tracks, muddy farmyard and road walking which was augmented by sunny intervals which she would not take credit for.

 Our first challenge was on the road up to the Car Park where we met a Highways lorry filling the potholes but not wanting to accommodate oncoming traffic which caused various levels of frustration. Once all had arrived 17 walkers crossed the road from the Car Park and walked along woodland paths in the direction of the village of Sutton. To avoid the deep puddle and mud of the more direct path we walked up into the village on the road admiring the houses and their beautifully kept gardens

Passing the White Horse Inn on our right we followed the footpath up onto the ridge and walked down through farmland with wonderful views, over the stream, up onto the road that lead us around to the farm. We then headed towards Bignor Park House, first taking the path through the woods of a valley carpeted with wild garlic where we had a very welcome coffee stop sitting on the fallen tree trunks and then across fields towards the house where we met with an unexpected herd of young cows.

 Safely back on the estate road we made our way down onto the woodland tracks which still had the puddles but the water had subsided so we could navigate around the edges. The Car park was in sight allowing us 20 minutes to drive to the Badgers pub..  A quick change out of walking footwear, a bounce across the car park and some nifty car parking at The Badgers Inn at Coultershaw Bridge followed for lunch which was very busy. A wait for our food gave us lots of time to chat but when it came was delicious.

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Chidham walk on 17th April 2024

John and Maureen took us on a walk that they are very familiar with, around Chidham. We were blessed with pleasant weather on a rare coastal walk for the group, with some cloudy  patches, but mostly sunny skies to help us cheerfully along ( and no mud or hills!) . We were fifteen walkers, taking the scenic route around the Chidham Peninsula and Cobnor point, with big skies and stunning views across both the Chichester and Bosham channels  towards Itchenor and the ‘ picture book’ village of Bosham itself.  We stopped about half way round, at a bird hide on the beach near Cobnor, for our coffee break. As the photo shows, a few walkers could not resist a seat in the hide, to watch for seabirds no doubt, whilst sipping their drinks in comfort.

The latter part of the walk took us back inland, eventually passing the old Manor House of Chidham and the pretty village church, which a number of walkers took time to explore inside, before we all retired to The Old House at Home pub, for our well earned drinks and chosen lunches. The lively conversation around the table seemed to indicate that the walk had indeed been well enjoyed, and as some said, ‘ a pleasant change’. 

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Rake walk on 10th April 2024

The 4.7 mile walk started at The Flying Bull pub at Rake, but the pre walk revealed the last third of the walk was too wet and muddy so had to be changed which meant the first time it was walked was on the real event.  We crossed the old A3 and picked up the Serpent Trail outside the old post office building with the royal coat of arms carved in the façade stone and stayed on it, coming into Rake Hanger.  We walked the length of the ancient woodland which is a Site of Scientific Interest coming out onto a road to cross following the Serpent Trail through the Combe Hill mountain bike assault course.  The drops, jumps and turns seemed insane to us although a few walkers admitted they may have been tempted when they were younger.  Another road crossing kept us on the Serpent Trail through woodland where an inviting tree trunk beckoned our attention for our coffee break.  Rain tried to dampen our spirits at this time but did not hang around for long.  A left turn took us off the Serpent Trail through a fenced footpath on the Fyning Hill Estate down through mud and puddles to Harting Combe Road which we endured until we could head north across a field and into woodland, eventually skirting the east bank of Combe Pond.  We discharged onto Canhouse Lane which took us back to The Flying Bull and a very tasty lunch for us all.

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Lodsworth walk on 3rd April 2024

We were promised a 4.5 mile muddy walk, which delivered in bath sized quantities to earn the title of muddiest walk this year. Eleven of us met up at the Halfway Bridge Inn and headed up the hill through a field towards Lodsworth coming out on Church Lane. Staying on roads for a while along The Street, Gills Lane and School Lane we entered Vining Copse on paths new to us. A short drop down a valley to cross a stream only to climb up the other side on Hoe Hill where we turned onto the Serpent Trail, stopping for coffee overlooking Snapelands Copse. We stayed on the Trail walking at the edge of the field beside Snapelands Copse before heading across the Redlands Farm and crossing the field heading to Smithbrook. This path brought us onto School Lane to walk up hill back to Shepherds Lane to drop down to The Street before taking the footpath down to Old Copse. A tree had fallen, breaking the handrail of the bridge over the stream and we discovered the elevated walkways stopped short of a particularly muddy section. More downhill took us to Eel Bridge where the stream was the highest we have ever seen. Walking up into River Wood we followed the river back to Beggars’ Corner and the Halfway Bridge Inn where a lovely meal rewarded our efforts.

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Byworth Long Walk on 29th March 2024

The overnight high winds and rain made for some trepidation on Good Friday morning as we met up in The Welldiggers Arms car park in Byworth clambering into an assortment of wet weather gear. The 9:00 am start of our 9 mile long walk took us up Kingspit Lane up to Flexham Park where we joined the Serpent Trail which formed the majority of our route. By the time we were half way across the Park, in between detours to avoid the mud and lakes on the path, a modicum of disrobing accompanied the rain stopping. By the time we reached Bognor Common we were entertained with a stripper’s jumper twirl as more garments came off as the sun came out and the temperature increased. We turned left up through Mitfords Copse, crossed a field of radish, into the woods again, turned south onto Bedham Lane, then left again into Fittleworth Woods. The Serpent Trail took us south to Churchwood where we stopped for coffee, some nibbles and photos around the capped off well. We encountered the muddiest part of the walk on the footpath down to Fittleworth for a quick dogleg on the pavements before turning west and up onto Hesworth Common where we left the Serpent Trail. At the vantage point on Hesworth Common we stopped for some minor first aid and photos which allowed us walk towards Hesworth Farm and increasing photo opportunities as the sunshine dispersed the clouds to allow the blue sky to lighten our spirits. The footpaths took us west until Highhoes Copse where we headed north through the copse and over the fields onto the main A road. A short distance later we turned right onto the country lane, through Byworth and then taking the footpath at Hallgate Farm which took us back to The Welldiggers Arms. The pub had a roaring trade on the Good Friday allowing us to enjoy a relaxed and extended lunch that we enjoyed immensely as a reward for our 4 ¼ hours hard work.

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