Hatchlands Park, East Clandon

 We were meeting up with Noeleen for a much reorganised chat and a walk. The idea was to meet up at Hatchlands park near Guildford then wander around the parklands and a leisurely picnic, also it was an opportunity to show off the van. The NT website showed a couple of walks around the parklands, as well as a house tour.

We (Sue, Bertie, Noeleen and myself) arrived at the same time from opposite directions and parked close by, before a long catch-upstanding beside the van.  Eventually we walked off to the reception hut to check in (the advantage of membership cards) and through the barrier.

The other side of the gate opened to grasslands with the house on our right.

Sheepwash pond was at the SW corner of the park - unfortunately the bank was too steep for Bertie. After the pond we left the pond we worked around to the track labelled as the Long Walk.

The long walk was a gravel track between the boundary fence and grass pasture fields. This track continued in its green tunnel up to and around the end of the park, returning down the Eastern fence.

Opposite Great Wix Wood we left the boundary fence and took the direct track into the woods.

Leaving The great Wix wood we left the direct return track and followed the wood edge before crossing the prairie grasslands heading for the southern boundary.

Along the Southern boundary - we had to keep out of the formal gardens (no dogs), and followed the track back towards the car park. Along the way we passed the walled garden. Back at the car park we stopped for some lunch - using the van as a convenient seating area.

After lunch we returned to the park, this time taking the "Dog Friendly" route to the big house, and around the back to the courtyard and café area.

Bertie and I waited in the courtyard whilst the girls went around the house. It started raining/ drizzle before they had finished so we took refuge in the stable block with an interesting straw and feed hoist (in reverse - lowing the requisites to the ground floor).

After the tour was finished we dodged teh rain back to the car park and after a short chat departed. 

Stanmer Park Circuit, Brighton

 I had somehow tweaked my back yesterday and needed to exercise and see if it would ease. The weather was muggy under a cloudy sky, so I planned a route that would take in wooded areas especially at the end of the walk after teh morning haze had gone. The aim was to park at one of the car parks around Stanmer park, then head over towards the west and up to the Chattri war memorial. From the memorial continuing up to the SDW on the ridge, then along the SDW to the east passing Ditchling Beacon until the junction at Streathill farm. Turning south and dropping past Stanmer down and into the park, following the edge past the university, across the driveway and up the other side back to the car park.

We parked in the upper lodges car park, then I spent 10 mins trying to get the app working to pay for it. Then we set out across the fields next door. A slight error meant we missed the entrance to the lane alongside the A27 and stayed in the field, hopping over the fence as we neared the end.

Since my map had been published the local authority had negotiated open access for the the fields around the traveller site, so we could cut the corner off and head across the fields towards the Chattri memorial path. WE could see the memorial on the next ridge so navigation was not an issue.

Up to the ridge opposite through grazing fields, joining the path coming up from Patcham. The path continued past the memorial.

Slightly less steep now following the ridge up to the SDW at the top passing through a number of wheat fields.

Up on the SDW looking first from where we have come and around to the west
then from the east and back to the south.

Heading along the SDW on the edge of the downs with Ditchling beacon in the distance. Bertie had to go and inspect each and every dew pond as we passed them

Up to Ditching beacon, with the trig point hiding in the grass

Over the road and onwards along the SDW. Bertie warily rushing past the cows.

Across Home Brow and Western Brow, until we reached the driveway for Streathill farm. Last time we were here there was a mobile coffee van, 

Turning down past the farm and into the fields beyond following the slope over into a winding dip.

Dropping into the dip, and following the winding bottom to teh edge of Stanmer Park.

At the park we followed a chalk path that climbed into the woods - the end of the wide views as we were constrained by the trees. All the paths were signposted and well used.

A dew pond hidden in the trees was discovered by Bertie, then we continued on the circumference track.

A very brief view down to the manor house, before continuing in the trees.

At the end of the woods we dropped through a field to the edge of the university and the manor driveway. Across the road and up the field on the other side. 

Then back into the woods, very similar to the other side, however there were a number of specimen trees visible on this side, mainly on the house side, rather than the A27.

Turning back north and away from the A27, the woods changed to beech with little undergrowth. Then back to the car park and the warm car waiting.