Plods 2008

Date: 10th September 2008
Time: 5:30pm
Diatance: 11km
Parking: at the pub
Pub: The Royal Oak

Close to home due to the shortening nights, please note the earlier start time.The organiser has told me to sell this walk with, “the scramble track”, “the clay pit” and “the brickworks”.

*** UPDATE ***

”

The brickworks is now a landfill sight…and it can stink
for miles around some days…thought it worth mentioning…so at least we’re
your warned…(went past the Oak a week or so ago and it whiffed a bit all
around the area)” Neal Zimmermann

We’re pressing on regardless, on the back of his successful Industrial Heritage Walks we can consider ourselves proud to be invited on Roy Carter’s first “Aromo-Trek”. And it gives us a unique opportunity to bag the Sussex Vegetable Big Five – can we identify the smell of rotting carrot, potato, swede, parsnip and cabbage?

The Cowdenbury Tales by Geoffrey Chancer

The Carter’s Tale

Whilom ther was dwellynge at Crawley

A battered Audi, that gestes heeld to borde,

And of his craft he was an ITE,

To Cowden he walked in the feelde.

He roameth to the public house

His thirste therein he hoped to douse.

A buxom wench who serveth ale

Passeth bye on visit to the pail.

The Carter leant back on chaire that rocketh

To resteth his head, between her knockers.

Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 5:45pm
Parking: at the pub or on the street in Haresdean
Pub: The Plough

An 11km, Mark Loveridge designed, jaunt through the South Downs including two climbs and spectacular views over The Weald and of Devils Dyke.

There may even be time for a well-earned pint at The Devils Dyke Inn after we’ve climbed the Downs.

The map:-

The GPX file:-

After much daytime debate as to the best route to Gomshall cars set off from both Manor Royal and Gatwick and rendezvoused, on time, in the station car park.
Mark led a sizeable group jam-packed with new and enthusiastic faces west out of Gomshall and into the picturesque village of Shere:-

Two of the stalwarts, Carter and Turton, briefly considered a pit-stop but soldiered on.
The path continued west at the foot of The Greensand Ridge before ascending the North Downs at Albury. Once on top, after a brief rest, we turned back east to follow the North Downs Way through the wooded hilltops. Colekitchen Lane dropped the party back down into Gomshall and nestled them comfortably in The Compasses Inn.
We’d barely been there a few minutes before we’d emptied one barrel of Surrey Hills Brewery ale. Well done team. Not quite enough though, to convince any bravehearts to leap the Tillingbourne.

First we saw a brigde. then a choo-choo train. then a layke.

Roy.

Date: 16th July 2008
Time: 5:30pm (we’ll need to leave Gatwick / Manor Royal a little early)
Parking: Gomshall Railway Station, so it may cost
Pub: The Compasses, Gomshall

Summary:

A wander westwards along the foot of the North Downs through the pretty village of Shere. (I’ll amend the route to take in the town centre.) We take in a little bit of the Pilgrims Way before climbing the Downs at Albury, then back east along the top dropping back into Gomshall past Colekitchen Farm.

Ever the optimist, I’m picturing a lovely summers evening and beers in The Campasses Inn beer garden with the Tillingbourne trickling past.

The map:-

The GPX file:-

Pretty poor turn out for the pre-amble. One. But, then again, it wasn’t well advertised.

In short, great walk Roy, everyone who can should attend.

Some observations:-

– the walk is definitely best done clockwise, views of the Ouse Valley Viaduct are sparse west of Ryelands Farm

– the Ardingly Reservoir Car Park is open until 9pm in the summer

– from the Car Park, head to the NE corner and cross a stile, when you reach a road turn right and you’re on the right track

– one muddy patch in Horse Wood

– look carefully for the right turn, following a gully down (over a stile) to Ayins Farm

– when you’re level with Ayins Farm, turn left towards it. Go through a gap in the fence with a stile to your right. Turn immediately right past the stile and go through a silver gate. Follow a narrow path through the meadow, initially straight on, but soon left, to go round the farm. Turn back and have a look at the building.

– there’s no point in pretending that the College Road / High Beech Lane section is any fun. Walk in single file and be careful. For the first RH bend switch to the LH side of the road because it’s a blind bend and the hedge abuts the road

– I’d strongly recommend that you shorten the route by turning right along Copyhold Lane. There’s a steep climb on High Beech Lane that has the cars dropping down fast towards you with little space to your right

– near the end, after Stone Hall on a lane heading east you’ll meet a gate across it with a small pedestrian gate to the left. Ignore this temptation and go through a silver gate on your left-hand side into the field, then take the angle pointed by the Public Footpath sign

– just after this you’ll have a wood on your left. Before the wood ends, look to your right and behind you – one last glimpse of the Viaduct!

Ardingly Circuit Lap Record, 2:43:07, N. Turton on 21/6/08 *

* subject to a IOC enquiry into Mr. Turton’s diuretic intake

A picture of the Ouse Valley Viaduct to whet your appetites:-

What, you want one with a train in it?

What, you want one with a steam train?

Get lost.