Graffham walk on the 8th February 2023

With Pauline indisposed, Linda was in charge of the walk from The White Horse in Graffham. The temperature was about freezing, plenty of mist around but the sun was trying all morning to reach us and it was a very pleasant walk indeed. We did a loop around to the north of Graffham before heading south to reach the parish church of St Giles. Some remnants of a 12th century church still exist but much of the church was rebuilt in 1875. The manor of Graffham was bought by Capt. the Rt. Hon. Euan Wallace, M.P, in 1935, then one of the richest MP's in the House of Commons. Three of his sons died on active service in WWII and their names appear on the Graffham war memorial. Another son - William Euan Wallace (Billy), was for some time an escort to Princess Margaret, having known her since childhood. Without loitering too long at the church we headed into the lower reaches of Graffham Down and turned east to reach the back of the excellent Seaford College. At this point we turned to walk through Seaford College before eventually going north to Parson's Copse and Upper Norwood. From there we took a track that led us back to Graffham and our eventual destination of the White Horse, where we had a very enjoyable lunch. 

A cold and misty morning deserves a good woolly hat

As woolly hats go, this takes some beating!

Don't look now but those goats are bare-headed!

There are at least 8 types of long-eared goats -here's a sample

Shepherd probably still fast asleep inside

Yesterday's spider's web still clinging on.

No mud on this walk

St Giles, Graffham

Still frosty

The lower edge of Graffham Down

The sun's out, time for a break

Seaford College is looking busy.

Seaford College, through the mist

A herd of wild deer, wondering which way to run

Long rows of hedges as described have been planted, but not all these plants are edible!

Splendid display of snowdrops in the village

Three sons of Euan Wallace MP on Graffham war memorial

At this junction, the walkers ignored the signpost and headed for the pub!

Just a little over 6 miles

• ← Halfway Bridge walk on 1st February 2023
• Hooksway walk on 15th February 2023 →