Julia and I headed off for one last walk of the year on Saturday. We were walking in Surrey which is never quite as good as walking in other parts of the country. You never really get the feeling that you are away from it all, but it still wasn't bad. 9.6miles from Holmwood to Gomshall.
The first half was fairly disappointing - too many people walking their dogs! But we had a fine lunch at the Stephan Langton Pub and then enjoyed a much better second half of the walk. Although as we left the pub the rain started and it didn't stop until we got to the train to go home... But with all our wet weather gear it was fine - just peeled it all off at the end and we were bone dry!!
Showing posts with label Walking 2006. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walking 2006. Show all posts
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Surrey Lane - before the rain!
Surrey Lane - before the rain!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Julia checking our route on our walk, Holmwood to Gomshall.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Amberley to Arundel - 9 miles and much mud...
So on Saturday the intrepid four of me, Kevin, Owen and Julia headed off for a long-planned December walk. Sadly it had been wet all week so we were a tad concerned about the mud, and we did spend about 3 miles walking through gloopy sticky mud, but it was a lovely walk - and it was a gorgeous day. Beautifully sunny - perfect for walking.
We walked from Amberley to Arundel via the beautiful village of Burpham where we had a lovely lunch at The George & Dragon pub. We got there around 11.30 and they didn't start lunch until 12 so we just had to sit there and have a wee drink while we waited for the kitchen to open. If only I hadn't felt seedy from the night before... But it was fab food - 3 of us opted for the Turkey xmas dinner which was delish.
The stretch after lunch was hard work as it was walking along the levee next to the River Arun, which had been well churned up by the cows. Luckily none of us slipped!
We walked from Amberley to Arundel via the beautiful village of Burpham where we had a lovely lunch at The George & Dragon pub. We got there around 11.30 and they didn't start lunch until 12 so we just had to sit there and have a wee drink while we waited for the kitchen to open. If only I hadn't felt seedy from the night before... But it was fab food - 3 of us opted for the Turkey xmas dinner which was delish.
The stretch after lunch was hard work as it was walking along the levee next to the River Arun, which had been well churned up by the cows. Luckily none of us slipped!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Nettle Alley, a mythical bull and a BIG hill...
aka as walking from Pulborough to Amberley - 10.7miles...
Craig, Julia and I headed off on a walk yesterday - a new one that had only been checked once by the person who submitted it to the Time Out website. We normally do our walks from the published books, but had been struggling to find one that we fancied then I saw this one...
After fighting through a large patch of bracken, avoiding the gorse we had felt quite proud of ourselves (see photo below). There was a path somewhere through it but we couldn't find one! It wasn't too bad until we got to the path forever known as Nettle Alley - accompanied by a loudly barking dog the only way was through the nettles - cue much screaming and swearing. And lots of stinging legs and arms for the rest of the day... Craig rezipped the legs of his walking trou back on - while I stupidly neglected to realise that I could have pulled up my socks which would have afforded my poor wee shins some protection.
And before anyone posts a comments telling us to look for dock leaves as 'they always grow by nettles' we have decided that is an urban legend. We didn't see any dock leaves and boy did we need them!
Then we got to the field that was roped off because of the bull. Apparently it is illegal to keep bulls in fields that are public right of ways, but this farmer wasn't having any of it. According to some other walkers we met, they said there was no bull but Julia and I weren't prepared to risk it. So 1KM around the road instead and we picked up the walk route again.
Then it was straight up to the top of the South Downs (check out the view behind me and Julia below) which was a tough stretch but well worth it for the views at the top. Then it was along the South Downs Way and back into Amberley for a well deserved drink while we waited for our train back to London. Cracking day and not a bad walk - all things considered!
Craig, Julia and I headed off on a walk yesterday - a new one that had only been checked once by the person who submitted it to the Time Out website. We normally do our walks from the published books, but had been struggling to find one that we fancied then I saw this one...
After fighting through a large patch of bracken, avoiding the gorse we had felt quite proud of ourselves (see photo below). There was a path somewhere through it but we couldn't find one! It wasn't too bad until we got to the path forever known as Nettle Alley - accompanied by a loudly barking dog the only way was through the nettles - cue much screaming and swearing. And lots of stinging legs and arms for the rest of the day... Craig rezipped the legs of his walking trou back on - while I stupidly neglected to realise that I could have pulled up my socks which would have afforded my poor wee shins some protection.
And before anyone posts a comments telling us to look for dock leaves as 'they always grow by nettles' we have decided that is an urban legend. We didn't see any dock leaves and boy did we need them!
Then we got to the field that was roped off because of the bull. Apparently it is illegal to keep bulls in fields that are public right of ways, but this farmer wasn't having any of it. According to some other walkers we met, they said there was no bull but Julia and I weren't prepared to risk it. So 1KM around the road instead and we picked up the walk route again.
Then it was straight up to the top of the South Downs (check out the view behind me and Julia below) which was a tough stretch but well worth it for the views at the top. Then it was along the South Downs Way and back into Amberley for a well deserved drink while we waited for our train back to London. Cracking day and not a bad walk - all things considered!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Hassocks to Lewes
So we did our walk from Hassocks to Lewes - 11 miles, difficulty 4/10. Great walk - up on the South Downs, covering some of the Trailwalker route as well which was cool. We walked past Ditchling Beacon - when we'd been there on the walk it was early morning - we had just walked through an amazing sunrise. Then we carried on and went past Black Cap for the 4th time - Kev's got some photos of that so once he gets them off his camera I'll post them.
It was just me and Kevin so I had to navigate the walk - a bit tricky at times but I got us around ok. Its normally Julia with me as back up so it was a big responsibility! Especially as the distances seemed to be a bit skew-iff and I'd be looking for something that we had passed 10mins ago...
Both very tired on Sat night tho - all that sun and fresh air. And it carried over to Sunday as well as I realised when I got back from supermarket shopping that I was wearing my cardigan inside out - neither I or Kevin noticed! VERY embarassing!!
It was just me and Kevin so I had to navigate the walk - a bit tricky at times but I got us around ok. Its normally Julia with me as back up so it was a big responsibility! Especially as the distances seemed to be a bit skew-iff and I'd be looking for something that we had passed 10mins ago...
Both very tired on Sat night tho - all that sun and fresh air. And it carried over to Sunday as well as I realised when I got back from supermarket shopping that I was wearing my cardigan inside out - neither I or Kevin noticed! VERY embarassing!!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Walking once more - and why didn't I do more in NZ?
Finally got out to go for a walk - the first this year with the Nola's Strollers crew but there was only 3 of us - me, Kevin and Craig. We did 9.5 miles, walking from Witley to Haslemere in Surrey.
It wasn't a very exciting walk - it was only 2/10 in terms of toughness, and it was a very grey day, but it was just great to get back out again. So the next one will be a bit tougher I think. We had done the walk by lunchtime so instead of lunching enroute which you normally do we had lunch at the end of the walk and were home by 3pm. It was all a bit surreal really. We had a lovelyl lunch in Haslemere but it is pretty posh - surrounded by National Trust land and enormous houses - real stockbroker territory. As Craig put it you know that all the children are going to be called Jack and Rosie...
So while out walking we were discussing about how good it was to be out walking, and how we want to do lots more, and where we would like to walk etc and it made me realise how crazy I was to have not done more walking when I lived in NZ. I have so many memories of Adrian trying to get me to go tramping with him, and me just hardly being interested. Different story now - I'm buying Country Walking when it comes out now and will probably subscribe!
It wasn't a very exciting walk - it was only 2/10 in terms of toughness, and it was a very grey day, but it was just great to get back out again. So the next one will be a bit tougher I think. We had done the walk by lunchtime so instead of lunching enroute which you normally do we had lunch at the end of the walk and were home by 3pm. It was all a bit surreal really. We had a lovelyl lunch in Haslemere but it is pretty posh - surrounded by National Trust land and enormous houses - real stockbroker territory. As Craig put it you know that all the children are going to be called Jack and Rosie...
So while out walking we were discussing about how good it was to be out walking, and how we want to do lots more, and where we would like to walk etc and it made me realise how crazy I was to have not done more walking when I lived in NZ. I have so many memories of Adrian trying to get me to go tramping with him, and me just hardly being interested. Different story now - I'm buying Country Walking when it comes out now and will probably subscribe!
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