We gathered at The Cricketers in Dunction for the 5.3mile walk led by Jay and Lindsay. Entering Burton Park through the Grade II listed gateway past the magnificent building dating from 1875 which is the current construction following a long history of other buildings, fires and developments, now being residences but having been requestioned by the army in WWII, a girls boarding school and police dog training centre. The parkland originates from the 13th century and was landscaped in the 18th and 19th century. We skirted Burton Church (Grade I listed tiny Norman) before stopping to admire the largest sweet chestnut tree we had ever seen.
A group photo opportunity was taken at the Burton Mill Pond weir enjoying the bracing wind followed by a stroll through The Moor and The Warren woodland down to Sutton where a coffee break was enjoyed in the sun at St John Baptist’s church. Kathryn’s birthday chocolates went down a treat. Suitably victualled we headed north west over fields and a stream to Barlavington, past St Mary’s Church (end of 12th Century), across more fields to Duncton Mill and the Trout farm. We made our way back to The Cricketers where we revelled in our excellent lunch choices.
Ready to go, astonished at the sunshine after the earlier rain
I really should check I have matching footwear before I leave home
Burton Park
This is a bargain property, you can trust us to do you a great deal!
Tiny, Norman Burton Church
Giant Sweet Chestnut Tree
Team photo at the Mill Pond
Leading from the front
Of course if you will wear the wrong footwear!
The coffee break
You’d better be quick, not sure it’ll hold up much longer
Pond with island and algae
St Mary’s Church, Barlavington with the two arcade bay blocked off
Oh dear what are they over there?
Deer, dear, and a pheasant
The rain came at the Trout Farm
The welcome lunch