29 September 2020

Devil's Punchbowl Circuit, Hindhead

 

Sunday had the first Bagpipe band practice, and Monday, I had a date with Jim for finger exercises, so it was Tuesday before we set out for our, now, weekly walk.

I had suggested Hindhead as we could stop off in Haslemere on the way back and do the weekly shopping as well.

We arrived just after 9am and already the carpark was filling up ...  it seemed it was a popular spot for the "ladies who lunch" to get some exercise in after dropping the children at school, together with the later dog walkers. We would also encounter the elderly walkers on our return...  I was just glad we had not come at the weekend! The idea was to walk down one side of the punchbowl from the top, across the bottom and back up the other side.

The clouds were down when we arrived, although the forecast promised better weather to come.

Looking down into the bowl from the view point was a sea of mist.

we set off down the large bridle path to the West of the bowl. This soon disappeared under the tree canopy.

Before long we came out into the heathland, sections more attributable to this NT area.

It was still misty across the bowl to the other side.
Once more the landscape changed as we began to descend more seriously and back into a wooded area - it just seemed to be each side of the track up the banks, after that it was open fields.
The base had been newly laid with loose gravel and made for good walking.
As we came off the track and onto paved roads we turned right to go across the end of the bowl. this involved the steepest descent down a dirt track with some large steps - definitely not suitable for consumer vehicles.
At the bottom Bertie went for a cool off and tank up in the river, before an equally steep but paved track up the other side.
The return to the top followed the "greensand way" which was more an off road vehicle track used by a variety of modes of transport, however we were lucky to avoid all but walkers until we met the track of the old A3 (before the tunnel was completed).
The track started off sandy then moved over to a more metalled surface as we came out of the woods on to the heathland once more.
the clouds were still down, but the other side was now visible.


the highest point on the walk soon followed as we reached Gibbets hill - slightly off the track, but if it had been clear we could have seen quite a way. the cross is to dispel the ghosts of the people hanged up here.
From here it was a short step around to the car park at the edge of the bowl.


Still not clear, but once we got away from the top was fairly solitary.
next an early lunch and off for the next job.

20 September 2020

Outwood Mill Circuit, Gatwick

 


A shorter walk this weekend ...  I had to open up the hall for the band leaders, so a delayed start, however also an opportunity to look further afield and also invite Noeleen along. So we ended up at the National trust common car park at Outwood, just across from the post mill.

The walk was essentially a circuit through the fields and back to the mill.


After negotiating the sprawling village we were into the fields ...  all had been recently harvested and lots of stubble , although there remained the great wildlife borders.

Bertie found a pond to "wallow" in around the half way point, but was disappointed that all the other places he looked at were dry - the summer drought was evident all around, the paths were all baked solid. Even the shadier parts were parched.
We came back to the windmill through a fallow field of sunflowers and other wild planting.
So back to the van for lunch, sitting around the table and chatting


13 September 2020

Cowdray Park Circuit, Midhurst


The forecast had promised another good day ...  we packed a picnic and the dog into the van and headed for Midhurst and a circuit around Cowdray park.

Parking in the town car park the track left from the end, across the flood meadows and straight to the ruins, before following the river to the south and along the edge of the town.

the route we were following took us then along an old Oak way at the top of a bank .. presumably used when the house was in its prime, but now rather old and overgrown.

After some zigzagging on roads we were back on the ancient track ways and rising into the Todham rough.. an older forested area.

Then it was back down to the river ..  the route took a diversion through a ploughed and manured field, where I suspect it may have been better to amble down the road.
Crossing the river gave Bertie his first proper opportunity to cool down - there had been a muddy puddle on the way into the rough.
Much cooler after his swim, we followed the road up to the main A272 linking Midhurst to Petworth. This rose up through a gorge of sandstone and mud, showing its age.

The other side of the main road we kept tot he ancient track-ways rising up to the highest for today.
There was a lot of new(ish) planting here and plans to add in 12 tree-houses for B&B, however the shape of the land made the traffic noise (and especially the motor bike screamers) quite intrusive.
The slope was not as steep as on the other side of the road, and we soon came to the northernmost turn around a cornfield.

Entering into Cowdray park proper was announced by a line of Lime trees planted for the jubilee. This lead down to a small overgrown and dry pond. 

Time for lunch ... and a rest in the shade of a large Oak. watching the other users of the park walk around.
Rising up a bank we were into the golf course ... a slight navigational error caused a diversion throughout several holes of the course and some disparaging comments from the "members" - we had ascended a bank rather than continue up a small gully! 
Back on track we picked up the A272 again and crossed over into polo-land - more polo fields than a municipal football ground...  we followed the track around the right-hand edge and back down to the ruins.
The sun was beating down and all the people around were eating ice creams ...  so once back at the van it would have been a tragedy if we had not also indulged - including a dog ice cream as a special treat.
However there was time for a quick cool off in the river, for Bertie, before jumping in the van making his covers all wet. 



06 September 2020

Canal and rail circuit, Cranleigh

Sunday was supposed to be a band practice day and also 1st of month church, so we settled for a shorter afternoon walk - Up near Cranleigh is a circuit taking in the canal and the old railway line.

the path took the old railway from the car park and left towards the swimming pool, before heading down the Knowle lane.

Then it cut back across the fields ..  more like a recreation ground under Knowle park house.

After all the new housing developments it turned down Alfold road up to the driveway for Uttworth Manor, and hence to the canal.
The canal was dried up as this was the only section that the tow path was open to the public around here ...  going north it looked like you could follow it, but going south was into a garden once we reached farm where the path turned east onto the path to Great Garson.
After this rambling "big" house under repair, ti was back to Alfold road and down to the Lion's lane ...  and old road and byway.

We followed this back across to Knowle lane
Straight across and into some fields behind the cottages, which worked their way across to the Downs link railway line.
the railway line where we came back to civilisation with a large number of people exercising - walking, cycling, and associated methods.
From here it was head down and push to get back to the van - a fairly straight route, with just some negotiation around the swimming pool area.

There was a vintage car rally going on in the town centre, causing a bit of a traffic jam, however we were soon through it and back home.