Marley Heights on 22nd June 2022

With a bad back Jay was sadly unable to lead his walk so Catherine and Andy kindly took over at the last minute. We started from Fernhurst recreation ground, with a guest walker, Liza and a stray walker, John, who found our company more easily that his own Rambling group. The walk was initially all uphill but eventually rewarded by magnificent views across Fernhurst to Blackdown and further on over Petworth and on perhaps to the Cissbury Ring. Trees were in the way to look to the south. Thankfully that was the last of the climbing as we subsequently descended through Greenhill and Cognor Wood to eventually emerge on to the lane near the Augustinian Shuldbrede Priory. An ancestor of the current resident was composer Sir Hubert Parry. The priory water supply was from local springs, stored in the cellars and lifted by hand. In 1914 a Hydraulic Ram was fitted which by clever use of valves used that water power to automatically pump the water to a tank in the roof.

From there we walked through Oakreeds Wood and then through fields and paths until we eventually met Van Lane, our route back to The Red Lion, where many of us enjoyed a well deserved lunch. The walk was around 5 miles.