Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Harting Hill Long Walk on 17th November 2023

A small band of eight congregated at the Harting Hill car park for our 13 mile walk led by Jay and Lindsay. The weather was sunny, bucking the trend of cloud and rain on previous days. To warm us up we were led up Beacon Hill where we paused to get our breath back, then enjoying a downhill stretch to Hooksway past the Royal Oak which sadly was closed. Climbing up Phillis Wood through the woods, crossing Gutteridge Row down to the abandoned medieval village of Monkton. At this point two of our walkers peeled off as the remainder continued south east stopping to trim some bramble and settle a log to sit on for our coffee break. The banter flowed with lots of laughter scaring off any wildlife. At Staple Farm we turned north east through Westdean Woods where we used the sunny rustic log seating and table for our lunch. Continuing up the hill to the South Downs Way we turned west across the Downs, Winden Wood and Philliswood Down. We paused at the Devil’s Jumps before continuing on to Pen Hill where some of us slowed on the ascent including the detour up Beacon Hill with the final limp home to the car park. Celebration of our successful completion took place at The White Hart in South Harting where we sampled some blistering fried chillies before selecting more mundane and less fiery fodder.

You are not really expecting us to climb Beacon Hill are you?

The assembled oblivious of the impending climb

Striding away from the car park

Great views across the Downs

Yep, here we are part way up Beacon Hill

Who is leading this walk anyway?

A demonstration of Obelix the Gaul’s ten pin bowling ball

Coffee break enjoying the log

A cross between ‘The Hills are Alight’ and ‘You put your left leg in’

The cabbage patch kids

Lunch on hewn furniture

Walkers leaning the opposite way to the hill and trees

Standing around contemplating our lunch

Hawthorn berry picking on the South Downs Way

Devil’s Jumps? Nothing to do with me.

The descent of Pen Hill with the pleasure of Beacon Hill ahead.

Just chilling on The Southdowns Way

About 12.1/2 miles

The well earned refreshments, but the Jalapeno chillies were a surprise on many levels

Hawthorns on Beacon Hill

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