Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Kingley Vale Day Walk 24th April 2019

Isabel's splendid walk looked at first to be a minor disaster. We arrived to a very crowded car park (thanks to Chichester Walking for Health, West Sussex Ramblers and dog-walkers) and in a downpour. However we all managed to find a spot to park and waited in the dry for the rain to stop, which it did after 10 minutes. There was no rain for the rest of the day. The walk headed up towards Kingley Vale and then up and over Stoke Down and towards Walderton Down. The views were extensive although the mist was hampering a good view of the sea. An excellent lunch was enjoyed by most in the Fox and Hounds in the charming village of Funtingdon. The afternoon was an easy walk back but with very contrasting scenery. We first travelled through some very extensive and intensive pig farming. They use the 25,000 tonnes of manure produced each year to produce biogas and biofertilizer and this helps reduce smells in the area. Within minutes we were surrounded with bluebells, literally millions of bluebells of Ashling Wood which was a fitted end to our marvellous day in the country. The walk was about 6 to 7 miles in total.

Solent forts in the mist

Well fed

Now , where did that come from ?

Is that the sea?

Ah - rooks nesting

Bluebells everywhere

7 miles

Photographer spotted

Heading out after a short delay

What is that?

Approaching the ruined barn on Walderton Down

These bluebells make me smile a lot!

Children missing

Nice garlic smell with a touch of pig

Nice des res for two.

White pollen means English or a cross with Spanish bluebell

Kingley Vale

Plenty of cowslips

Fox and Hounds

Where next?

Common Whitebeam, probably

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