Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Chalton walk on 6th November 2024

Maureen and John’s 4.4 mile walk started at The Red Lion Chalton crossing South Lane past St Michael and All Angels church climbing gently on Chalton Down on the Sussex Border Path and Staunton Way that take the same paths at this point.  Passing Idsworth Down to the east, we skirted The Folly and turned east down to the railway.  We crossed under the railway through a cattle creep where some bovine bellow imitations set the scene then wandered up the slope to the 11th Century St Hubert’s church, Idsworth with its medieval wall paintings to provide the perfect backdrop for our coffee break.  We passed the church on its north side, crossed the field and road to pick up Staunton Way again heading north.  When we got to the disused quarry site on Huckswood lane we turned to the west and then north onto Shipwrights Way heading up to Woodcroft Farm.  Taking the footbridge over the railway we made the steep clamber up Chalton Down back onto the road by Manor Farm and the downhill scamper back to the pub.  The Red Lion, believed to be one of the oldest pubs in Hampshire dating from at least the 16th Century served a delicious lunch.

Leaving St Michael and All Angels behind

John leading the walkers astray

Strolling through the crops

The technology said they are Spindle Berries that are not kind to our liver and kidneys

Blue sky over the Down

Huddling before a storm

Descending the hill to St Hubert's Church

St Hubert on the hill

Toasting St Hubert on our coffee break

Medieval wall painting dating back to around 1330

Modern fresco completed to celebrate the Millennium

Our offerings were not good enough so we left under a dark cloud

This is the closest I’ll ever get a hand, foot and mouth this close together

The Chalton Down coronary test in action

Not easy, even for the young ones!

Early coaching Inn that was our quaffing station

At last, a proper sit down

The walk route

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