2025 Yearly Overview

This shows a summary of the longer walks partaken of this year. It does not include the daily exercise 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

Again settled on 2000 km as the target and 2400 as the stretch - I very nearly achieved   the higher number but it was impacted in the later months by our house sale commitments.

Petworth Deer Park

The second frost covered dawn as we woke up, so it begged for a walk. I had to deliver a letter to Petworth so the two could be combined with a walk around the deer park.

We parked in the Deer Park car park, as this opens from 8am, whereas the main car park is only open after 10:30.
The payment machine was frozen so we set off without a ticket in the hope of no checking to happen.

The car park was relatively clear, but just over the shoulder the frost mist started.

The small pond was frozen apart from a small section at the end.
The deer were all huddled under the trees where the ground was not frosted.

As we past the water tower at Upperton the mist became thicker.

The highest point was almost out the top of the mist.

A large group of males gathered under a  clump of trees.

Into teh heavy mist and down to the gateway lodges. From here we followed the A272 into the centre of town. We delivered the letter and then cut through the big house (the town entrance was un manned so we did not need our cards again.
A short pause in the café to warm up before setting off back to the car park.

Through the thick, heavy fog around the house and Upper pond. The mist became less as we walked through the park.

The lower pond was the point where the mist ended (like a rolling cloud)

back up to the car park in the bright sunlight.

Monarchs Way, Slindon Estate

Its been a quiet couple of weeks on the walking front, and so I picked a route down on the South Downs, starting at the car park on the A285 above Duncton, and walking down to the school and back up, then down to Droke and into Selhurst Park woods. Across to Eartham wood and up Stane street to Bignor Hill car park, before descending down the road and path to Bignor. A zigzag vai gatting farm and Sutton to Northcomb wood. Finally around Barlavington Hanger and Duncton Hanger to the car park.

In the car park looking north towards Haslemere.

Taking the path out of the car park climbing up towards the quarry, then dropping down the path to Beechwood house. This path was blocked in several places by blown over trees.

Around the house and up the lane to the back of Seaford college.

Up the path angling across Woolavington Down, to the top and cross the South Downs Way.

Down the North side woods

A straight forest track past a crossroads with timber stacks.

Still generally straight to Oxen down

Dropping down to Droke Lane, near the car park. Over the back road and into Selhurstpark Hill woods.

Continuing through the woods (again still mainly straight) to the layby on Selhurstpark road.

Over the road and into Goodwood park woods - not sure this was a proper path, but it led down to the Monarchs way.

Along the Monarchs way and through the fields of Selhurstpark farm. Over the A285 and into the carpark of Eartham wood.

Through the car park and freestyling out the back - this was to make an alternative to the straight Monarchs way.

Following the forest fire breaks into North wood before returning to the Monarchs way.

Now on Stane street through the fields of Gumber farm

Up Stane street climbing to Gumber corner.

Around Gumber corner before leaving Monarchs way to reach the Bignor Hill car park.

From the car park looking north to black down, then down the approach road

Leaving the lane (still Stane street) on the path down towards Bignor.

Across fields to New barn house.

Down the driveway from the house (over a ford - luckily there were a few stones to use for stepping on).
At Glatting farm, the path angled back towards Sutton.

Across a stream and up to the village.

In the village a short section of path along a boardwalk then onto a path behind the pub.

Back into the fields, working across to Northcomb Barn.

Into the back of the gullies then climbing up the woods of Northcomb wood - this path is obviously not used very much as the path was hidden under piles of leaves.

Up to the top and turning along the bridlepath to Barlavington Hanger.

Climbing up the path to the high point of Duncton down

Down into Duncton Hanger, and along the forest track back to the car park. There was now a gate at the end that was locked - presumably to persuade people to use the overgrown path.