| KEY EVENTS FOR MEMBERS 2026 Members Events Saturday 21st February – AGM, Petersfield Community Centre Thursday 26th March – Ramblers Lunch. Wednesday 10th June – Visit to Nyeman’s Garden, Haywards Heath Wednesday 1st July – Picnic in QECP Wednesday 5th August – BBQ Thursday 15th October – Leaders’ and New Members’ lunch Thursday 5th November – Ramblers Lunch, Details to be advised. 21 September – 25 September 2026 – PRC Hf Holiday, at Derwent Bank in the Lake District | ||
| Current Calendar, below | ||
| May 2026 | ||
| Wed 27 | Leader: Val Bignor Hill and Stane Street Walk A CHANGE IN DETAILS In view of the excessively hot weather we are currently experiencing I have changed the details for the day and shortened the walk. Please note earlier meet time. Meet: for 9am prompt start at NT CP on Bignor Hill at end of narrow lane about 1.5 miles SW of Bignor Village. G.R. SU976 130 Distance: approx. 6 miles Details: A beautiful varied walk in the heart of the South Downs with lovely views incorporating wide open farmland, woodland, the pretty village of Bignor and pastures in the valleys. Some fairly strenuous ascents and sometimes rough underfoot. Poles an advantage. BRING PLENTY OF WATER, SUNHAT AND SUNSCREEN CREAM | |
| June 2026 | ||
| Wed 3 | Leader: Barbara Meet: for 10am start at Odeon Cinema steps, Port Solent, Portway, Cosham PO6 4TS. G.R. SU636 048 Distance: 7 miles Details: A flat easy lateral walk along the shoreline, passing Portchester Castle & on to Salt cafe for refreshments, returning the same way. Lunch optional. | |
| Sat 6 | Leaders: Linda & Paul Farley Mob: 07972101215 Woodlands and Wild Orchids CANCELLED DUE TO IMPASSABLE TRACKS AFTER WOODLAND EXTRACTION BY FORESTRY ENGLAND | |
| Wed 10 | MEMBERS EVENT Visit to Nyeman’s Garden, Haywards Heath | |
| Thurs 11 | EVENING WALK Leader: Chris Meet: for 6pm start at The George Inn, Finchdean, Waterlooville PO8 0AU FULL DETAILS TO FOLLOW | |
| Wed 17 | Leader: Chris Meet: for 10am start at St Hubert’s Church, Idsworth, Waterlooville PO8 0BA Distance: 8 miles Details: From Idsworth church in the field, go along woods and fields to West Marden. Crossing the road, follow paths to Compton (by the café). Then go along the road and cross grass fields to pick up Cowdon Farm Lane to the quarry. Here turn left on to the Staunton Way, back to the cars. | |
| Wed 24 | Leaders: Caroline and Claire C Meet: for 10am start at Iping CP. GU29 0PB. GR.SU852219. (What3Words drizzly.word.volcano) Distance: approx. 9.5 miles Details: We head west across Iping Common following the Serpent Trail to Dumpford (the trail markers do not correspond with the OS map and the route is off road to Dumpford). There we head to Trotton via the beautiful Terwick Mill. At Trotton we visit the church which contains two important English brasses and unusually rich and detailed 14thC wall paintings. We then carefully cross the 15thC bridge, which has lights to control the traffic, and rejoin the foot path on the other side. From here we head to Iping, then onto Stedham. This section is part of the New Lipchis Way and we continue to follow it, via a short detour, to the outskirts of Midhurst by the Half Moon Pub. Here we cross the A272 and rejoin the Serpent Trail which takes us back to the car park. This walk has short sections of steep ascents and descents. There are 5 stiles along the way. | |
| July 2026 | ||
| Wed 1 | MEMBERS EVENT Picnic at QECP | |
| Wed 8 | Leader: Sandy Meet: for 10am start either in Singleton or West Dean Gardens – to be clarified Distance: 7-9 miles Details: A walk discovered in a local paper by Marian. From Singleton – over Levin Down on the Lipchis Way – joining the South Downs Way – then following the West Sussex Literary Trail through Charlton Wood to Charlton village and back to Singleton. 850ft ascent. | |
| Wed 15 | ||
| Wed 22 | ||
| Wed 29 | ||
| August 2026 | ||
| Wed 5 | MEMBERS EVENT BBQ at Clanfield Cricket Club | |
| Wed 12 | ||
| Thurs 13 | EVENING WALK Leader: Tony Meet: for 6pm start in Hawkley from the green near Hawkley Church, GR. SU745291. Car parking here or on road near Hawkley Inn. Distance: 5 miles Details: EVENING WALK. Depart passing the Church, then via Champlers Farm, Empshott Green, Hawkley Hurst and Mabbotts. Some stiles, about 600ft elevation. It is possible to shorten the route near the end. Optional refreshments at The Hawkley Inn at the end of the walk. | |
| Sat 15 | Leaders: Christine T and Gordon C Meet: at Petersfield Railway Station for the 10.15am bus, no.92 Stand F, or depart from Half Moon pub, Sheet, at 10.21am Distance: 7 mile walk from Midhurst. Some gentle hills, a quite easy walk. Details: Bus arrives Midhurst 10.40 at St Margaret’s Convent, just before bus turns left to go through town centre. We take a short walk to the South Pond where we have the coffee break, admiring the goslings and other birds! Then we walk to the cemetery and from there to Midhurst Common with lovely views of the South Downs from Sunset Hill. Then Severals Rd, cross A272 and across the polo fields to Stedham. We take the river walk to Stedham Mill, lunch break, and then the river walk to the Woolbeding river bridge. From there we take the New Lipchis Way back to Midhurst with some glorious views towards Woolbeding and sections by the river. You need a very modern map to show this section of the New Lipchis Way! It enters Midhurst by the secondary school. Very short walk from there to the bus station. What we decide to do in Midhurst will depend on the time we have before the bus for Petersfield leaves! We do not expect any problems with mud at this time of year. However we know what alternative paths to take should there be a mud problem. If you need to drive in order to get the bus, parking is free in Beckham Lane, Petersfield. If you want to drive to Midhurst, use the car park by Grange Rd GR 885 213 and join us at the pond very close to this car park, which we will leave around 11 am. There are parking charges. Advantage of bus: free if you have bus pass. Not an expensive journey without one! Also we end the walk at a different part of Midhurst and get the bus home from the Midhurst bus terminus, aiming to catch the 15.20. Other departures from Midhurst are 14.15 and 16.35. | |
| Wed 19 | ||
| Wed 26 | ||
| September | ||
| Wed 2 | ||
| Wed 9 | ||
| Sat 12 | Leader: Christine T Ride and Stride – sponsored visits to churches to raise money for church maintenance. Christine is ‘Striding’ and invites ramblers to join her in the ‘Stride’ No obligation to sponsor her! Distance: 6 miles long. Meet: for 10am start at St Peter’s church Petersfield. (church is by Petersfield square) From St Peter’s we will walk to the heath and then along the track through the heath which runs parallel to Heath road. If you need free parking you could park along Heath Road or in the car park by the nursery and join us at some point along this track. Then along Pulens Lane towards Sheet. We will not always use the most direct roads/lanes but take some slightly longer routes to use footpaths. (Though if there is rain we may use more direct routes) From Pulens Lane we will take a footpath by the River Rother to Sheet Common and then along Village Street to Sheet Church. Our route to Steep is via Mill Lane to a footpath across fields to Burntash Farm and then a lane and footpath to Kettlebrook Cottages. Up Church Road to Steep Church. Steep church has toilets and offers light refreshments. We will have our picnic there. We return to Petersfield via Hangers Way. Visiting other churches in Petersfield is optional but URC has very good offer of tea and cakes! | |
Please note:
That all walks are fully reconnoitered and assessed by each Walk Leader. Any features of particular note, i.e. crossing busy roads, underfoot conditions, steep hills, etc. will be mentioned in the Walk Details.
In the event of very extreme weather forecasts (heavy rain, storms, snow AND heatwaves) walks may be cancelled at short notice. In which case the Walks Programme organiser will email all members and amend the website accordingly.
If in doubt the walks programme organiser can be contacted on 07791 222647 or email: [email protected]