Thames and Hampton Court Place grounds.

Walk Report for Sunday the 20 March

15 of us set out from the Molesey Cricket Ground car park in cool weather. Our route took us along the Thames past the Lock to Hampton Court. We were joined by 4,000 half marathon runners at Hampton Court going along the riverside to Kingston. So we had to be on our best behaviour for all the supporters!

Arriving at Kingston Bridge we were serenaded by a Rock Choir (although in truth it was for the runners not us). We headed back through Home Park in peace and quiet arriving at the now locked gates in to the Palace Grounds. Apparently this earlier than scheduled summer closure (to now be permanent) is a major irritation for the local park users. However we easily overcame this obstacle by going out of the side gate and back in to the Grounds by the ornate gates. The display of spring flowers in the grounds was appreciated by all before we arrived at the Bridge. From there various parties split off in search of lunch, the Cricket Ground Cafe being a favourite. The walk of 5.5 miles took us about 2 1/2 hours.

Shamley Green

Walk Report 6th March

With the weather set fair 14 of us started from picturesque Shamley Green heading out of the village to join the Greensands Way. We followed this for some distance before branching off along Downs Link which follows the course of an old railway.

 

We later trekked across country passing a number of ancient and delightful cottages and farmsteads, taking in great views of the distant hills then skirting the Wintershall Estate before returning to our start point by way of Birtley House. We were a month or so too soon for the bluebells, although the eagle eyed botanists amongst us managed to spot one or two early specimens.

 

Unusually for Surrey we encountered only one small hill and surprisingly little mud on our route. As it was Mother’s Day the local pubs were likely to be too busy to accommodate us all for lunch, but three of us enjoyed excellent light lunches at The Snooty Fox Cafe in Shalford to round off a very pleasant morning.

 

 

 

 

Peper Harow

Luck was with us yet again weather wise on Sunday no rain although quite muddy in places as promised. A nice even number of 14 plus Meg, a cute black and white Border Collie set off from Shackleford Village for a 5 mile walk.

 

Heading off in the direction of Eashing we stopped for our coffee break at St. Nicholas Church at Peper Harow. The church dates back to Norman times although very little remains of the original medieval building.

 In 1826 the western tower was added, replacing a wooden bell-turret with shingled spire. Unfortunately, the church sustained considerable fire damage in December 2007. As you will see from the lovely photos taken by Margo, restoration has been completed.

The route continued around Norney and Hurtmore through fields and woodland carpeted with Snowdrops; concluding at the Squirrel at Hurtmore for drinks etc.

Snowdrops

 

The Group

Church Ceiling

Commons around Elstead

John and Margo led a very enjoyable 5 mile walk with some splendid views from the Woolpack at Elstead, the route encompassed Bagmoor, Ockley and Elstead Commons. The going was remarkably good considering the amount of rain fall we’ve had lately. As you can see from the photos we were fortunate with the weather too, a nice dry crisp winters day 

 

It was nice to see a good turnout of members with 18 staying on for lunch. Whilst the intention was to celebrate the New Year albeit belatedly; it also marked Southwest Surrey Walkers 10^th anniversary.

 

Some of you will be aware that the group was formed in 2006 by Stephen Colbrook; in fact the very first SWSW walk was led from Elstead on the 1^st January 2006. Although Stephen has since moved to the West Country the group continues, run by a small group of members.

 

 

 

Coffee Break Beside a Lake

 

The Group

 

 

 

Crooksbury Hill - repeat

Walk Report - 17th February

This walk had to be cancelled 2 weeks earlier as a result of heavy rain, and the paths being totally waterlogged. This time we woke up to snow on the ground, but there was no need to cancel, indeed it just made for a scenic backdrop to the views from Crooksbury Hill, the high point of the walk.

 

The snow and ice was still clinging to the branches as we posed for a group photo at the Trig point. A bit of sunshine would have made it even better, but it was far from gloomy. Once back at the green in Tilford most of the group of 10 repaired to the Barley Mow for some lunchtime refreshment.

 

 

The Trig point on Crooksbury Hill makes a good resting place.

 

View into the valley

 

Still a little snow left here!

 

 

 

 

Crooksbury Hill

Walk Diary 3rd January

Sorry to find the first walk of the year was cancelled, but conditions looked bad!  There was rain forecast for all morning, and an active flood warning for the river Wey in the Tilford area, so it seemed unwise to continue.

Personally, I find walking in the rain can be rather unpleasant and pointless. It is difficult to talk with fellow walkers from underneath a hood, and the views we struggle up hills for are not vistas of rolling hills, but simply clouds or mist.

Hopefully we will do this walk later in the year. See you then!

The joy of rain!

View of the Wey at Tilford 2014

Loxwood and Alford

Walk Report 6th December

An Elite Eight of us ignored waking up to rain, an early start and the threat of muddiness to enjoy a walk from Loxwood, just in Sussex, over the county boundary into Alford, in Surrey, and back. The early part of the walk took us through a variety of fields with pleasing longish views, then to our tea stop in Alford, through more fields with an equine feel (also some turnips) and then, for the final third of the 5.6 mile walk, along the towpath of the Wey and Arun canal. Fairly flat and easy, the walk was in fact less muddy than when we recce’d it a couple of weeks ago, and we suffered no more than three drops of rain all morning. I forgot to take a group photo, so here’s a not very good one of a tree en-route instead.

 

The whole group (when did that last happen?) then had a good lunch at the Sir Roger Tichborne, about a mile up the road from where we had walked. The roasts were particularly generous and fine.