Petworth circular

We saw plenty of wild flowers on today’s ten mile walk. Bluebells and primroses were the most notable. Wood anemone, greater stitchwort and lady’s smock were coming into flower. Lesser celandines remained in flower but daffodils had finished.

We (18) set off in sunshine from Petworth Park NT car park. After lunch we set off in snow. Fortunately, this lasted only about five minutes. In another twenty minutes we were too hot and had to stop to remove our waterproof clothes.

From the car park we walked across the park past Upper Pond to the exit at New Lodge where we turned right at the A272. We joined a footpath at Tillington, headed west, passed Upperton Farm, crossed New Road, turned right (north) on a footpath that went past the Pitshill estate, turned left past the lodge (hidden under plastic sheeting and scaffolding) and continued west to River, Eel Bridge and Lodsworth, our stop for lunch.

After lunch we walked north along the road to a footpath on the right. In Old Park Copse we turned left and then right on a lane that took us to the Serpent Trail. We continued on the Serpent Trail to Upperton, entered Petworth Park and headed north back to the car park.

Map: OS X 133

Witley circular

Twenty-eight arrived for this afternoon’s five mile walk. We set off from Witley near the church, crossed the A283, headed for Hambledon, passed the church, paused briefly at the top of Hydon’s Ball and then returned to Witley via the golf course and Enton Mill. 

Paths were remarkably dry. Bluebells carpeted some woods but had yet to flower in others. Skunk cabbage (an invasive alien) thrived in two boggy areas. This plant is now a prohibited species. It is illegal to sell or distribute it; those who already have it must ensure that it does not spread.

Map: OS X 133

Stokenchurch circular

We had another good day, the final one of our three day trip. Seventeen of us walked with four from the Chinnor U3A on an eight mile route from Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire. The mud was different; it was not the sticky, slippery sort of the past two days, and there was less of it. Again there was plenty of sunshine.

After the three days some of us felt in need of a rest, not from unaccustomed walking but from unaccustomed eating.

We set off from Stokenchurch, crossed the M40 by a footbridge, followed a track close to the motorway past Coopers Court Farm,  crossed Ibstone Road and took a footpath that headed towards Lower Vicar Farm. Before the farm we turned south on a bridleway and continued on this past Wellground Farm and Wormsley Park, branched right at a junction with another bridleway, joined the Chiltern Way and continued west to Northend. At a minor road we turned left and headed for the hamlet where we stopped for lunch by the village hall. A woman cleaning the hall allowed us in to use the facilities provided that we removed our muddy boots.

After lunch we retraced our steps briefly to a bridleway by Northend Farm, turned right on a footpath that went through Hale Wood and then steeply uphill through Great Wood. At a lane by Hellcorner Farm we turned left and in a few yards took a bridleway on the left to a track on the right that went across Ibstone Common. We crossed the minor road and headed NE on a footpath between houses. At the edge of Hartmoor Wood we turned left on another footpath, joined the Chiltern Way and continued on this back to Stokenchurch. Here we bought drinks from the pub and sat outside until the coach arrived to take us to Henley-on-Thames, our final stopping place before our journey home.

Map: OS X 171

City of dreaming cranes

We had another good day. There was much sunshine and no rain. There was plenty of mud on some footpaths but no one fell over. We’ve become better at walking on Oxford clay.

Nineteen of us with two guides from the Chinnor U3A set off for the nine mile walk from Redbridge P&R half an hour later than intended because our journey there by coach was delayed by heavy traffic. The leader kept up such a pace that we arrived at the afternoon coach pick-up point having made up the time with an extra 10 minutes. This gave us longer for tea and cake.

From the P&R we headed for the Thames and walked along the towing path towards Oxford. We crossed over at Iffley Lock to look at the church before continuing on to Folly Bridge and Osney Bridge. Here we left the river and headed for North Hinksey, crossed the A34 by an underpass, walked up Cumnor Hill and stopped for lunch on a dry stretch of path at the top.

After 25 minutes we resumed the walk and headed back towards Oxford on more muddy paths. We stopped at Wyevale Garden Centre from where the coach collected us and took us into Oxford. Members of the Chinnor U3A had organised two brief tours of the city for us.

The coach collected us 4.30pm and took us back to the hotel. We had time to revive before supper followed by a quiz. 

Shillingford circular

We are in Oxfordshire on a three day (two night) stay to walk with members of the Chinnor U3A. Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon and one approached as we sat by Dorchester Abbey eating our picnics. Our luck was in; it moved north and missed us.

There were 31 on the longer walk of eight miles. We set off from Shillingford Bridge Hotel at 10.30 and headed along muddy footpaths (three fell over) to Little Wittenham Wood, Castle Hill (from where there were great views), Wittenham Clumps and Little Wittenham. Here we crossed the Thames by Little Wittenham Bridge and continued to Dorchester where we stopped for lunch.

After lunch we returned to Shillingford by the Thames Path. During the day we saw several red kites fly past slowly overhead.

We arrived back at the hotel in time for a cream tea at 3pm before supper at 7pm. There will not be a shortage of food on this trip.

Map: OS X 170

Artington circular

Thirty arrived for this morning’s five mile walk. Given the weather forecast this was a surprising number. However, the added attraction (apart from the leader) was the planned stop half way round in a popular tea room. The leader, having contacted Watts Gallery Tea Shop in advance, phoned through with the number before we set off. When we arrived there was room for all of us inside, which was fortunate because it was raining and, in spite of the size of the group, service was prompt.

We started near Artington P&R, crossed the main road, took the footpath by the south side of Mount Browne and continued west to Compton and Watts Gallery. Our return route was via the North Downs Way to the River Wey and south along the towing path to Artington.

Map: OS X 145

Farnham figure of 8

There were 33 on the morning five mile walk and 23 on the afternoon three mile section. Rain started before we reached the start at Farnham golf club public car park. As we set off it stopped. Apart from a heavy shower which lasted for ten minutes while we sat in the café by the car park eating lunch, there was no more rain.

From the car park we headed SW and joined the St Swithun’s Way. At Park Farm we stopped to look at a barn full of sheep and lambs. One ewe gave birth to twins before our eyes. A man wearing a long red glove assisted by pulling them out. The ewe stood up immediately afterwards and started to lick them. We carried on along SSW and turned left on a lane that took us to Dippenhall. Here we turned left at a fork in the road and shortly after joined a footpath that led east across fields to a minor road. We crossed the road, headed NW on a footpath, turned right at a junction, rejoined SSW and made our way back to the car park.

After lunch we walked round Farnham Park.

Map: OS X 145