Liphook and District Ramblers

Linchmere Common

Caroline — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:01:15 +0000

Parking may have been at a premium at the Iron Hill car park near Liphook, but several Liphook walkers managed to find space to park cars, many of which had taken several people to the start. Thirteen ramblers turned up for Janet’s 7/8 walk which took in Lynchmere Common and Marley. Although the sun was shining, there was still frost on the ground. Nuthatches, Robins and Great Tits were singing high in the trees and on the ground, the only fungus that we noticed was a patch of orange peel fungus.

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Egyptian Geese come to say ‘Hello’

Caroline — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:16:09 +0000

The day was cold and frosty but with the sun shining it was perfect for the Liphook Ramblers Christmas walk. Starting at Benbow Pond on the A272 between Midhurst and Petworth, the group of 12 were heading off to the Horseguards Inn at Tillington to enjoy their Christmas Lunch. First stop was at Benbow itself where the Egyptian geese and the always present black swan came to say ‘hello’. To warm up we quickly made our way across country to the village of Lodsworth and on to Leggatts Hill where we found some nice big logs just right for sitting on while we enjoyed a warming cup of coffee or drinking chocolate. No time to linger there, some muddy paths were waiting for us before we could get to our lunch stop at Tillington. We got through them and on to Upperton Common, climbing to meet the road near Petworth Park and before long we had reached the gate into the Park, where the deer were waiting. What a sight to see so many deer and so used to people, they stayed there for us to admire them. No time to linger though as the pub and our Christmas lunch were only a short distance away.

After a sumptuous meal which started with a glass of warming mulled wine, we set off on the return journey. First we walk along the wonderfully kept footpaths through the vineyards at Tillington, on to Pitshill and River. On the way we came across some spectacular fungi – hygrophorisus – before arriving back in Lodsworth. Here we stopped to look at St Peter’s Well, which according to the nearby sign is ‘of ancient origin’. Arriving back at Benbow Pond, with the setting sun, the Egyptian Geese and Black Swan were waiting to greet us again.

l to r: Howard, Dick,Janet, Alison, Pat, Audrey, Bob, Sue B, Sue Z, Adi

Janet - are you sitting comfortably?

Hygrophorus Fungus seen on footpath between Upperton and River

Hygrophorus Fungus seen on footpath between Upperton and RiverParking in Lodsworth

Parking in Lodsworth

Filed under: Fungi, Liphook, Liphook Ramblers, Long walks, Pub walks, South Downs, Walking Groups, Walks in West Sussex

Ramblers on a misty November morning

Caroline — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:17:27 +0000

Liphook Ramblers near Iping on a misty November morning

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Photographs from Jenny

Caroline — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:21:43 +0000

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Filed under: Autumn, Frensham, Liphook, Midweek walks, Pub walks, Walking Groups, Walks in Hampshire, Walks in Surrey, Waverley Abbey, woodland

Bruce’s Photographs of the Tuesday Walkers

Caroline — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:47:10 +0000

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Filed under: Autumn, Liphook, Liphook Ramblers, Midweek walks, Pub walks, Short Walks, Uncategorized, Walking Groups, Walks in Hampshire, Walks in Surrey

Walking Through History on the Sussex Downs

Audrey — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:28:37 +0000

Saturday’s downland expedition from Droke, billed as “Stane Street and Slindon”, had lots of historical interest! A walk up through the wood soon brought us to remains of the Roman road, known as Stane Street. “Stane”, or “stone” street, was certainly built to last and there’s a marvellous sense of continuity, as we walk the route and see stones poking through the grass that would have been handled by builders, perhaps as early as the 1st century. At one point, we could see the spire of Chichester Cathedral, near the road’s starting point at Fishbourne, where the Romans are thought to have landed.

We descended through the Slindon Estate, now in the care of the National Trust. This encompasses a large tract of the the downland countryside and much of the village of Slindon. Approaching Slindon, we passed through Gumber Farm, the boyhood home of poet and writer, Hilaire Belloc. Here, there is a commemorative plaque celebrating the writings inspired by Gumber and the “South Country”.

We ate lunch on the seat surrounding the lime tree in the centre of Slindon. This seems to be a replacement for an old lime, complete with seat, that appears in historical photographs. We noticed that the old flint cottages all sported paintwork in the same shade of burgundy and presumed that this was a tradition for Slindon Estate houses. Just around the corner is Slindon House, now a private school, and opposite the house a surprisingly large Catholic church. It seems Slindon House was built in Elizabethan times by the Catholic Kempe family, who worshipped in secret and kept Catholicism alive in the area for over 300 years, before financing the building of St Richard’s church in 1860. The benefactress, the Countess of Newburgh, had previously financed The Folly, built on Nore Hill, to the north of the village, partly to provide work for villagers during a period of economic depression.

Throughout this walk, we enjoyed a great range of wildflowers, even so late in the season. No doubt, this is due to farming practices sympathetic to downland wildlife – a nod to history of a different kind? Walking on the Downs above Slindon, it seems unsurprising that, from Neolithic times, people were attracted to the area. At several points, we enjoyed magnificent 360 degree panoramas – we were ‘on top of the world’ and with very little climbing to get there!

A very enjoyable and interesting walk!

Filed under: Long walks, South Downs, Traditional, Walks in West Sussex

Walk with a difference!

Caroline — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:56:27 +0000

On Saturday 14th May, the new Hindhead Tunnel was open for pedestrians to walk through, provided you had been lucky enough to get a ticket! But that is another story. Katie and Steve were among the lucky ones:

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Summer Evening Walks have started

Caroline — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:35:33 +0000

When setting the date for a bluebell walk in advance it is always difficult to know when exactly they are going to be at their best and this year was no exception. As in previous years, Berta took us on a bluebell walk and opted for the first Wednesday in May. And although we had missed the best of the show, we still managed to spot some very pretty ones.

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Not only did we see some lovely bluebells, Alison made some new friends too!

Filed under: bluebells, Evening walks, Flowers, Liphook Ramblers, Short Walks, Spring, Walks in West Sussex, woodland

Up to Blackdown

Audrey — Sun, 22 May 2011 16:27:26 +0000

Yesterday, half a dozen club members enjoyed a great walk on Blackdown. This is the highest hill in Sussex and, having just managed to get itself tucked inside the borders of the South Downs National Park, the highest point in the Park. Geologically, though, it is not part of the South Downs but of the Greensand Ridge. It’s a wild and beautiful place with wonderfull views, the best of which must be earned by some serious legwork. It is probably best known as the home of the poet, Tennyson, where he built “Aldworth”. The house and its lovely surroundings were painted, on several occasions, by Helen Allingham, who also lived close to Haslemere.

We started off from the charming West Sussex village of Lurgashall and were delighted to see that this is one of the few that still has a post office and, judging from the notices posted around the village green, a thriving community. It was an enjoyable and interesting walk through the fields and copses to Blackdown and we were lucky enough to have two sightings of deer. The second was of a mother with a faun in tow, the latter causing consternation to the walkers, as he stopped in his tracks while mother disappeared on the other side of the field. Perhaps, he had been told to “lie low” while Mum threw these ‘aliens’ off the scent.

Conversation ebbed as we toiled up the steep southern escarpment of Blackdown but, suddenly, panoramic views rewarded us and all agreed the effort had been well worthwhile. We took a deserved coffee break at the Temple of the Winds, with its views over the Weald. Ditchling Beacon and Devil’s Dyke could be seen to the south-east but, sadly, it was not clear enough to see through the gap of the River Arun to the sea.

The descent back down to Lurgashall was particularly scenic, especially the section down through the grounds of Blackdown Park, where a solid wall of towering rhododendrons, in full flower, lined one side of the drive, with exhilarating views, as the hill dropped away on the other.

Arriving back in the village, we saw that the pub was doing a roaring trade with people enjoying the atmosphere on the green of this quintessential English village.

Thanks, Mick, for another splendid walk!

Filed under: South Downs, Walking Groups, Walks in West Sussex

Coffee at Meon Springs

Caroline — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:23:01 +0000

The sun was out, the blue bells were in flower and the butterflies were all around – a perfect day for a walk. Eleven members and two dogs set out from East Meon for a 10 mile walk. However, before we start Howard embarrasses everyone by telling another group that we were from Ford Open Prison!

As time for a coffee stop approached we just happened to have arrived at Meon Springs Fishery where we were able to buy coffee and a piece of cake and enjoy them sitting on real chairs (a rarity on a ramble) on the veranda looking out on the fishing lake.

Enjoying a cup of coffee and piece of cake at Meon Springs. Sitting down: Sue, Audrey and Alison. Standing Derek, Janet and Sue.

All too soon it is time to move on and start the gentle climb to Old Winchester Hill. Along the way, Orange Tip and Speckled Wood butterflies fluttered around. Once on Old Winchester Hill, it was still sunny but very windy.

When it came to our lunch stop it was still very windy but once we were sitting down, we were protected from the wind.

Middle of the afternoon and we were back in East Meon where we started and the home of our leaders, Sue & Adi who very kindly provided us all with a cup of tea and another piece of cake – a very civilised way of finishing a walk!

Filed under: bluebells, Butterflies, Flowers, Liphook Ramblers, Walking Groups