Wild garlic
Sat 16th May 2015
Walk Details:
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A 20-mile circular route via the Hangers Way, Buriton, Butser Ancient Farm, Windmill Hill, Blendworth, Finchdean, St Huberts Chapel, Ladyholt, the Milky Way, aiming to be back at Petersfield by 1800 (Waterloo by 1930)
Entry Details:
Walk Report
Wild Garlic, Saturday 16th May 201521 walkers, 21 miles - leader Roderick Smith
A group of 21 met at Petersfield Station at 09.30 on Saturday 16 May. We walked through the town stopping briefly at M&S for lunchtime sandwiches; via The Avenue to The Lake before returning to The Hangers Way to Buriton. We stopped beside the Church with its Bonham-Carter memorials and a timelessly tranquil village pond, before climbing steeply through the old chalkpits and on to yummy light refreshments at the Queen Elizabeth Visitor Centre.
Passing Butser Ancient Farm, we climbed in hot sunshine to the top of Windmill Hill, and, continuing south, enjoyed far-reaching views to Boniface Down more than 20 miles away on the Isle of Wight. After Blendworth Farm we turned east to Finchdean for a picnic lunch in the centre of the hamlet. The George pub was very busy hosting the owners of 100 high-powered Mercedes AMG cars.
After lunch and past South Holt Farm we entered woodland with several acres of wild garlic in full flower before reaching the isolated St Hubert's Chapel, Idsworth. We saw the Chapel's medieval wall paintings, and continued north to Huckswood Lane and east along Cowdown Lane. The grand-sounding but rather less-imposing Ladyholt Park preceded a steep climb out of a bucolic valley up to Ditcham Park School. From Coulters Dean Farm we descended the Milky Way through more wild garlic and back to Buriton.
We returned along country paths to The Lake, arriving at the station by 17.40 after more than 21 miles in 8 hours. A great day out in superb weather enjoyed by members and friends of many nationalities from London and Wessex Groups.
Photographs by Roderick Smith and Bola Baruwa
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