Chapel Common Walk on 21st September 2022

The walk on Chapel Common was led by Denis and Jean, starting from the lay-by near to the site of The Black Fox in Liphook. Despite a lot of wondering, we were no further forward deciding what the rebuilding work was all about. Taking the footpath towards the Liphook and Ripsley Cricket Club, we were forced to divert because of a fallen branch. This was not the last but we all survived the walk. After passing under the main Portsmouth to Waterloo railway line, we joined the Sussex Border Path to pass by Folly Pond at Forest Mere. Coffee stop near Hilly Fields Copse and then a walk through the woods where we passed over the route of the Chichester to Silchester Roman Road. There was no sign of the road at that point but this is the same road that passes through Milland. Silchester still exists as a small village north of Basingstoke, with some splendid remains of the Roman walls, built on the site of an Iron age settlement.  After briefly walking part of the Shipwrights Way, we turned at Langley Wood towards Chapel Common with its wildlife and ecology protected by its Site of Special Scientific Interest status. Plenty of mushrooms and toadstools were spotted before we eventually got back to our parking spot and from there we made our way to The Jolly Drover for lunch.

"I'm sure there's a path here somewhere"

Definitely a problem

Under the railway

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Woodland past the horse trial grounds

A road, at last!  Only for one minute.

Spindleberry in the hedge.

Danger, low bridge!

Break time.

Lovely garden on the route

Supposed route for oak from Farnham to Portsmouth for the Tudor shipbuilders

Varied habitat on Chapel Common

The dog was so excited he forgot to bite our walk leader.

Now, what's growing here?

Poisonous, but sometimes eaten after boiling twice. Also hallucinogenic. apparently.....

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More toadstools. In other places there were some aged ceps/boletes

Back to the start.

About 4.1/4 miles

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• Lodsworth walk on 28th September 2022 →