31 December 2024

2024 Annual Overview

This shows a summary of the longer walks partaken of this year. It does not include the daily dog walks, nor the local repetitive walks (for example the Saturday Bread Run, or the Surgery Visits, etc.)

This is now the "New Normal", with both ski trips and several short UK stays (unfortunately no Old Farts meeting)

Now settled on 2000 km as the target and 2400 as the stretch - I did achieve the higher number but it needed an effort after my companion's demise. I did manage to bounce back after a slow down during his illness.

Bertie on his last walk

Sadly my walking companion of recent years has taken his final steps.
Unfortunately he had succumbed to a canine version of Colitis, which had caused a gradual decline over a couple of months where he lost 7kg.
He did not respond to any drugs and no physical issue was discovered by numerous tests.
Eventually this was too much, and he left to see Cerberus crossing the Styx



30 December 2024

Truleigh Hill & river Adur

 The fog of previous days had disappeared and replaced by overcast clouds and a strong wind. I Chose a route up on the South Down, that I hoped to blow away the cobwebs. The aim was to park in the little car park off the roundabout on the A283 just south of Upper Beeding, then head up the South Downs way to Truleigh Hill, and Edburton Hill. Then down the track to Mile oak (suburb of Shoreham), until just before the A27 and climbing over Southwick hill and continuing across the slopes to Mossy Bottom and Erringham farm. Following the footpath around Mill Hill and down across the A27 on the road, before cutting under the cloverleaf to the river Adur and the downs link path. Back tot eh car park up the river path of the Downs link depending on fitness, and mud status.

The car park was almost empty when I arrived (I had an alternative if the travellers were still in occupation) and I was soon climbing up the SDW on the increasing gradient to meet the back road at the quarry car park.
Along the access road for the YHA and the radio masts on Truleigh Hill, where it mutates into a gravel farm track.
Down the far side to the view point in the hanging valley between the two hills.
Climbing up the track to Edburton Hill - the map showed a path on the far side of the fence, but in reality this was not easy to find, so I followed the SDW to the top of the hill. There is a series of mounds and ditches here (Motte & Bailey remains). There are good views both North and South from here.

The path down to the valley where a number of tracks meet was easy to find (it even had a stile over the fence). I followed the farm track south to the medieval village of Perching (no visible signs left on the surface)
Continuing on the farm track along the curving valley base through Summers Deane and Hazelholt bottom.
The track curved around the end of the slope ahead and across Whitelot Bottom to the base of a second rib above Mileoak barn.
I continued straight up the slope ahead (there is a less steep track that contours around the end of the rib!) Then meandering through the gorse and grass slopes above to a point where it crosses the Monarch's Way and views over to the West.
Along the path heading west to Mossy Bottom. This path was the first really muddy track I had come to today and it did need some care.
From Mossy Bottom Barn the track followed the farm drive to Erringham farm, around the farm buildings (and prominent CCTV!), then continuing up to the mill hill back road.
A zigzag then onto the footpath (which was really a chewed up & muddy farm track) that led aroudn field boundaries to Old Erringham farm.
Through the farm yard and across the fields to head back to Mill hill lane.
The path climbed back up the Mill Hill nature reserve, then along the edge of the slopetehn aroudn a sheep field to get back to the lane for the crossing over the A27.
Beyond the bridge I descended down to the edge of the cloverleaf between the A27 and A283. The path came out onto the A283 rather then under the clover leaf above. This needed a short section along the busy A283 to find the path across to the river.
The path access was broken (but did still have the footpath sign) and then under the complex junction - where it was guess work where it went - until an exit onto the downs link path. The exit was overgrown and I climbed a gate in preference.
I left the Downs link and followed the river path - it was relatively dry, with a lot of grass cover. Following the serpentine river past Lancing college
Past the old quarry where the river path and the Downs link re-join.
Finally up to the footbridge (where the Downs link peels away) and re-joining the SDW up tot eh A283 and back to the car park.  


27 December 2024

Return from Stopham

A grey day and with just enough rain overnight to keep the paths slippery, I chose to stay local. Sue was going to the Garden centre between Puborough and Stopham, so I took a lift there with the idea of walking home. I would mainly follow the Wey South path until I could take the track to Wisborough Green. From there zigzagging across the fields to reach my standard trail between Kirdford and Ifold, and so home.

From the car park at the garden centre, I followed the path climbing past the allotments and up to the Wey South Path. 
Now on the WSP and following this along past Park Farm and down to Coombelands Lane. Along the lane until I could escape onto the path along side the racehorse training grounds.
Back on the lane at the top of the hill, and down past the drive to Pythingdean manor and farm of the same name, to Pickhurst. Down the driveway to Sheepwash
Along the WSP as it returned to the canal at Pallingham Lock (where teh canal adn river Arun join forces). Over the canal and river and up the driveway from Pallingham Quay Farm to Horsebridge Lane. Along the lane to Westland and down a track beside horse fields. The WSP snakes around as the tow path does not have public access here.
Through Sheepfield hanger to cross Pallingham Lane at Furnacepond cottages.
Down a green lane beside a grass field then across a pair of fields to reach the farm track leading to haybarn.
Around the buildings and over the swing bridge to pick up the canal tow path. Following the tow path along to Lee Place bridge.
Leaving the WSP and following the farm track up Harsfold Hanger and past Harsfold Farm, then down the driveway to the A272 at the edge of Wisborough Green.
Over the A272 and down a residential lane that turned into a dirt track, that continued up to Newpound Lane. Along the lane to Fisher's Farm, where I could pick up the track down to Howfold Farm, then on to Durbans road.
Over Durbans road and down a "closed" path - I had been down here a few weeks ago and knew it was the bridge that was missing a few planks. The bridge now had a barrier rather than just the tape that was there last time, so I had to drop down to the river and climb up the opposite steep bank.
Once over the stream and along the path (there was a lot of signs that people had been using it recently so I was not alone in bypassing the closed sign! Next Up skiff Lane to Hookhurst farm where I picked up the path beside the driveway to Chandler's Barn.
Now on the parish boundary route between Kirdford and Ifold. I had been down here a few days ago and floundered in the mud, so followed a connecting path to the parallel path passing Wephurst Park. Then back home.