Finchdean walk on the 9th August 2023

The five and a half mile walk from The George Inn at Finchdean took us up Ashcroft Lane where we picked up the Sussex Border Path footpath by the hedgerow of a field heading north on a gentle climb with a few stops to get our breath back and catch up. We stopped at a couple of places to admire the sunflowers and wild flowers that the South Downs Farmers’ Group had planted in corners of their fields to attract pollinating insects. One of our walkers must be a bit of a flower as a butterfly to landed on him in confusion. We skirted Oxleys Copse overlooking the old field system, past The Folly with Idsworth Down falling away to our right and views across to Ditcham Park School, West Harting Down, and Uppark in the distance. The sky was clear to allow us to see across to the Isle of Wight at one point. The peak of our walk was above Chalton Down where we crossed a stubble field to shuffle down the steep drop at Chalton Down through hazelnut bushes, wild flowers and brambles, pausing to watch the mainline train thunder past on its way to Portsmouth. At the bottom, we got back onto a road to cross over the railway line, pose for our team photo and stop at the start of the Huckswood Lane track for our coffee break. Refreshed, there was a slight incline up to the edge of the disused quarry where we continued on the Staunton Way by turning south descending to Compton Down Road which we crossed coming to the rear of The Church of St Hubert at Idsworth. The church of St Peter was first rebuilt in 10th Century. Its small tower and Chancel were added in the 12th or 13th centuries and the south wall was rebuilt in its new position in 16th Century. In 1864 the wall paintings on the north wall were discovered which included the conversion of St Hubert to Christianity which led to the rededication of the church to St Hubert. We dallied in the church and the wild meadow too long, so elected to continue on the road back to Finchdean and The George Inn for an enjoyable al fresco lunch in great company.