Liphook Community Magazine Winter 2021

COUNTRYSIDE COMPANIONS
Walking Group
It never rains on Thursday . . .
Well, it never seems to, or only very occasionally. Over the last
three months Countryside Companions Walking Group has
walked weekly with a very varied programme of routes. But as I
write this I am still basking in the glow of the annual walking
group holiday, so it is difficult not to focus on the three fabulous
days we had in Swanage in October, with the added bonus of
gorgeous weather.
Walking group holiday to Swanage.
Fourteen members took the opportunity of covering our final
part of the South West Coastal path from Kimmeridge Bay to
Studland Bay. Sections of the SW Coast path between Exmouth
and Kimmeridge had been covered on two previous trips in 2018
and 2019. This year, our first day was the most challenging
between Kimmeridge and Winspit; described in the guidebook as
“dips and rises”, these were actually extremely steep ascents and
descents, using
Tackling the South West Coastal Path.
the steps carved
into the hillsides.
However, the sense
of achievement
definitely made it
worth the effort
and Dorset was
putting on its best
show for us,
with fabulous far
reaching cliff top
views, rolling
countryside, calm
seas, lifeboats
parading on trials,
helicopter fly-pasts
and the odd Naval
ship. Day two from
Dancing Ledge to
Swanage was, by
comparison, gentler
and on day three
we finished with
the delightful
walk from
Swanage over
Ballard Down via
Old Harry Rocks
to Studland and
all along Shell
Bay, returning to
Swanage on an
open top bus,
much to our
childish delight.
Other highlights
from recent
walks include
righting a sheep
found struggling
on its back
during an East
Meon figure of
eight walk; a
poignant but Old Harry Rocks.
beautiful walk
from Binderton to Kingley Vale, during which we took a moment
to remember a former member, Susan Lowe, through very
ancient yew woodland to a lunch stop at the Devils Jumps, a
viewpoint with a stunning 360 o outlook above Chichester; the
walk we did from Hilltop to Singleton where the leader rang
ahead to ensure the farm ice cream shop we were due to pass
would be open. At the end of July we walked from Whiteways
Cafe (top of Bury Hill) to Slindon, in lovely weather, with great
views and excellent tree trunks for the coffee stop - we can get
quite competitive as to who can find the most scenic and
comfortable coffee stop. Once again our animal husbandry skills
were called into use when we twice found two calves on the
wrong side of electric fences. Also on this occasion, the leaders had
to take us on a planned diversion due to a completely overgrown
path – this frequently happens, especially in summer, hence the
need to always prewalk a walk about a week beforehand, checking
for fallen trees, swollen streams and closed foothpaths/bridges –
all of which occurred in the past few months. On one of the
Indian summer days in September, we walked from the RSPB car
park at Pagham to Selsey, conveniently ending up near Potters
Crab Shack (other crab suppliers are available) for lunch, and
then returned alongside Pagham Harbour. It did, in truth, rain
on a few occasions - the one that stands out recently was during
our Bosham to Emsworth walk where the rain was blowing in
from the sea, meaning you were fairly wet on the left hand side,
but your right side was bone dry!
But whichever walk we do, they are always great fun in excellent
company and there is never a dull moment. We average 7.5 miles
each Thursday and walk anywhere within a 30 mile radius of
Liphook. If you would like to join us on our adventures, please
do visit our website: www.cc-walkinggroup.co.uk
Marilyn Ambrose
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