West Stoke walk on 23rd April 2025

Isabel’s 4.75 mile walk started at the West Stoke car park where we each decided whether to wear our rain gear or take it in case we needed it. A sudden shower early on made up our minds. A brief foray with the traffic on Stoke Road took us to Stoke Wood with abundant carpets of bluebells that extended into Ashling Wood. Turning north on Woodend and then Downs Road, we took the bridle path up Bowhill where views to Hayling Island and Havant appeared through the distant mist. Skirting West Copse, we reached the brow of the hill walking down Stoke Down to the entrance to Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve where we took advantage of the information hut and seating to have our coffee break and chat with another rambling group. Leaving the nature reserve we ascended the bridle paths up to Stoke Clump with great views to the south including Chichester and stayed on this path down to Downs Road and made our way back to the car park through West Stoke. We adjourned to the Fox and Hounds in Funtington for an enjoyable lunch.

Ready to start

Carpets of bluebell

More bluebells

Ashling Wood

Walking up Bowhill

At the top of Bowhill

Views to the south

There was an early report that a white tailed eagle had been spotted in a nearby field but all we saw was this pheasant, grateful the shooting season had ended