Eleven turned up for this morning’s 4.7 mile walk. The good weather and the distance might have encouraged more out than on Wednesday.
The route went via Possessionhouse Farm, Elmhurst Farm, The Warren, St Nicolas Church, Itchingfield and the West Sussex Literary Trail.
Map: OS X 134
Four turned up for today’s 9.5 mile walk (others were perhaps put off by the possibility of rain and the distance). We made good progress and arrived back at the car park in Barns Green just before 2.30pm.
The route took us past Little Stammerham Farm, the south side of Christ’s Hospital, Sunnymead Farm, Southwater Country Park, Maripost Wood, Courtlands Farm and Sumners Ponds. It was uneventful apart from one short section of footpath near the end that was very overgrown. Our leader went ahead with his secateurs and bore the brunt of the brambles.
Map: OS X 134
Sixteen turned up for this morning’s five mile walk. Dark clouds looked ominous but no rain fell on us. The heavy rain of the previous two days had not adversely affected paths. Plants at the sides of paths had perked up.
From the top car park we headed south to Rodsall Manor, Gatwick, Broomfields, Britty Wood, The Tarn, General’s Pond, Hillbury, Long Bottom and returned to the car park via Puttenham Common.
Map: OS X 145
There were ten on today’s seven mile walk. We met in Puttenham Common top car park. The surface of the car park had been improved. Holes had been filled in.
Once again it was a hot, sunny day. Paths were dry and sandy and vegetation by them was covered in dust.
From the car park we headed to Cutt Mill House, Gatwick, Peper Harow, Shackleford (picnic lunch stop, the pub had closed), Lydling Farm, Rodsall Manor and then returned to the car park.
Map: OS X 145
This morning’s 5.5 mile walk followed the route of the Four Commons & a Mill walk by Fancy Free Walks. Fourteen turned up for it. The terrain was dry, sandy and dusty. Bracken had started to turn brown. Dead leaves on paths were like conditions in autumn.
Map: OS X 145
Twenty-six arrived for this morning’s five mile walk (almost as many as the total turnout for the four walks yesterday).
We met by the recreation ground and headed south on a byway towards Valewood, turned east on a footpath that took us through the beaver enclosure (surrounded by a sturdy wire fence and managed by the NT), continued to the Sussex Border Path before turning north to Tennyson’s Lane and returning to the start.
Map: OS OL 33, X 133
Turnout was low on our four walks today: 10 miles, 7; 8 miles, 7; 5 miles, 10; 3 miles, 5. Could early morning rain (drizzle) have deterred some?
Rain on the eight mile walk was short-lived. We set off wearing waterproof jackets; after about ten minutes the rain stopped. Dark clouds passed overhead at midday but, if there was rain, it missed us.
The walk started near Ladywell Convent. We walked on footpaths and bridleways past the convent, through Tuesley fruit farm, across the golf course and Buss’s Common, joined the Greensand Way and continued to Hambledon.
The section of footpath after the golf course by the derelict house near Hambledon Field had been restored. Previously it was muddy and overgrown. Walkers had created a detour through the land of the derelict house to avoid it. Now the footpath is wide and has a solid, raised surface. A wooden fence and gate enclose the property.
From Hambledon we continued east on the GSW to the church and then turned north to head back via Hydon Heath and Busbridge Lakes.
Maps: OS X 145, OL 33, X 133
The fifth heatwave had ended but it was still hot and the humidity was high. Grass remained beige, leaves on some rhododendrons had shrivelled, dust covered plants at the side of footpaths.
Nine arrived for the eight mile walk. We met in the car park in Hesworth Common and headed east. The route took us to Fittleworth Common, Stopham (where we stopped by the church for refreshment), Fittleworth Wood, Springs Farm, Warren Barn Copse, Bedham (lunch stop by the ruined church/school), the Serpent Trail, alongside Bognor Common, Little Bognor, Fittleworth House, across the A283 and back to the car park. We made good time and finished at 2pm.
Maps: OS X 121, X 134
Twenty-five turned up for this morning’s five mile walk. The leader did well to keep everyone together. Leading ramblers, sometimes, can be like herding cats. Some dawdle, some stray off the path.
Paths were dry and dusty. Some were markedly cracked, a hazard for small creatures. A mouse careless enough to fall down a crevice would have a job to climb out.
Our leader had planned to take us through Butcherlands Nature Reserve but this was so overgrown it was impenetrable.
The footpath north of Ebernoe, in an area where bracken thrived, had been cleared to give a wide track. We marched along between walls of bracken.
Map: OS OL 33, X 133
There is no sign of the end of the hot dry weather. The leader of this morning’s 5.5 mile walk changed the route so that more of it was in shade. Eight turned up for it.
We met in the car park by The Moat near Elstead and headed south on bridleways to join the Greensand Way in Thursley and follow it to Smallbrook. Here we turned north on a footpath and continued past Dye House, crossed Thursley Road, reached Houndown and continued on the lane near Hankley Common.
Maps: OS X 145, OL 33, X 133
Walking Matters