The Devil’s Punchbowl

Twenty-three turned up for this morning’s five mile walk around the DPB. We met in the NT visitor centre car park and set off clockwise. There was sunshine all day. Yesterday rain was so heavy that two walks were cancelled at the start by the few who arrived; the third walk went ahead with five on it.

Today there were great views. We could see tall buildings to the north in London from Gibbet Hill.

From the car park we walked past Highcomb Copse, descended into Highcomb Bottom, joined the route of the old A3, reached Gibbet Hill, continued south to the Greensand Way and followed this back to the car park.

Map: OS OL 33, X 133

Frensham Ponds

Early mist and fog had cleared by the time we (15) set off on this morning’s five mile walk. The sun came out and the temperature rose. In less than a mile several needed to stop to remove their jackets. By the end of the walk, all were is shirtsleeves.

We met by the visitor centre at Frensham Great Pond and headed east to Frensham Little Pond where we stopped for coffee. After this we continued round FLP, passed Gray Walls and completed the circuit by walking round the south side of FGP.

Patches of heather were still in flower on the common.

Map: OS X 145

Chinthurst & Blackheath

There was a large turnout for this morning’s five mile walk, the second highest this year—31. We set off from Chinthurst Hill car park and headed to Blackheath via Great Tangley Manor Farm, Little Tangley, Blackheath Lane, the Fox Way and Derry’s Hill. Our coffee stop was at the cricket pitch where there were enough benches for us to sit in comfort.

It was a warm sunny day; heather was still in flower on the common.

We returned to Chinthurst via the Downs Link.

Those on the walk today who’d been on the group’s holiday to SW Ireland three weeks ago, when half of them had been smitten with Covid, had fully recovered.

Map: OS X 145

Billingshurst northwards

A notable feature of this morning’s six mile walk was the colour of grass; it was green. Gone were the fields of beige, crunchy stuff. Grass had turned back to green. Paths were still dry but vegetation had ceased to look parched.

Four arrived for the walk. We set off from Jubilee Fields sports ground car park and headed east on footpaths through Billingshurst to Duckmore Copse, Bishop’s Wood, Five Oaks, Leyhold Hanger and Tedfold and returned to the car park.

Map: OS X 134

Petworth and Balls Cross

Today’s ten mile walk was based on Walk 18 in our book Another 25 Favourite Walks. It featured Petworth, No Man’s Land, Wilderness and Limbo and was entitled ‘Into the Unknown’.

Seven arrived for the walk. We met in Petworth Park car park and headed through the park towards Petworth House. In the grounds near the lake were two tall blue obelisks, part of an art exhibition we discovered later. We crossed the A283 by the house, joined the Serpent Trail, continued east to Brinkshole Heath then turned north to Balls Cross via Blackhouse Lane, Warren Wood, over fields, past Old Elkham Farm, Elkham Farm and Elkham Corner.

In Balls Cross we stopped for a picnic and drinks from the pub.

We returned to the park via Langhurst Farm, Stedmans Journey, Keyfox Farm and Limbo Farm.

It was another warm, sunny day; paths were dry. Perfect conditions for walking. The route was good and had great views.

Map: OS OL 33, X 133

Cowdray Park eastwards

Ten turned up for this morning’s seven mile walk. We met in Easebourne in the Cowdray park car park and headed south past the castle ruins to join the New Lipchis Way. After Todham Rough we reached Selham Road and headed north, walked over Ambersham Bridge, reached the A272, crossed this and continued north past Heathend Copse, turned west on a footpath and followed this across Cowdray Park and the golf course and returned to the car park.

Map: OS OL 33, X 133

Crooksbury Hill & Tilford

Today’s six mile walk was based on a route described in Fancy Free walks. We started from Crooksbury Hill car park rather than the one in Tilford.

Ten turned up for the walk. Conditions were good—sunny, dry and warm. We set off uphill to the top of Crooksbury Hill and paused to admire the view from here to the South Downs.

Map: OS X 145

Tilford & Farnham Heath Nature Reserve

Twenty-one turned up for this morning’s five mile walk from Tilford.

Gone are the hot, dry conditions and dusty paths. There were large puddles on the byway near Tilford Common, though the ford (with new bridge) was dry.

Most on the walk set off wearing a fleece or jacket; however, by coffee break they were warm enough to remove them.

From the start by the cricket green we headed north on the Greensand Way to Sheephatch Lane, turned SW to Tilford Road, crossed this to enter the nature reserve, turned south to Tilford Reeds, continued through Tankersford Common to Pierrepont Home Farm (coffee stop), joined a byway and headed NE back to Tilford branching off on a footpath that went past Meadow End Farm.

Map: OS X 145

Barns Green northwards

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

Barns Green eastwards

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