- Date: 22 February 2025
- Walk Leader: Peter
- Distance: 4.25 miles
Pre-AGM Stroll from Greatham
After a slightly delayed start a total of 15 ramblers decided that the possibility of a muddy walk prior to our AGM and lunch would not deter them…….
This was very soon to be put to the test as shortly after leaving the Village Hall car park, we turned off the road and along a narrow fenced path to encounter our first contact with the wet, squidgy stuff. From this, the trail emerged onto an open field where at first it was merely wet and slightly boggy, but increasingly muddy as we approached the end of this field where another muddy section with a few trees and overhanging branches was waiting for us. Crossing a farm road, we took the easier track off this, but still managed to find some wet. Another wet, but not too muddy field with an indistinct path lead us to Le Court, where we joined a tarmac road. Despite the uphill, we could admire the daffodils and other flowers that were beginning to emerge. Even the sun was attempting to break through, with patches of blue sky appearing. As we approached some larger houses, the view to the south was improving. Turning off this road, we took another wet, slippery, muddy path, bordered again by a fence, along the base of Squiresfield Hanger. The new, wild garlic was just beginning to come through, this was accompanied with the tapping of woodpeckers. Almost Spring!
We then descended down a short, steep muddy path and then through another section of a fenced, woody, muddy track to our coffee stop, where we could take a brief respite and enjoy the view. A gentle descent across a field to where we took a wooded trail along to Snap House. There was of course mud along this trail with some unexpectedly wide, deep-ish puddles – hey, it had been raining heavily the night before!
Passing the old Brockbridge Farmhouse, with its lovely timber and brick front, we then passed much more modern farm buildings. Crossing a large, wet, but not too muddy, field through to Hazel Copse which was wet and very muddy, where one Rambler announced that they had never had mud splatter on their clothing as high before! Another first! Passing Ridges Cottage, turning right, along Benhams Lane for a brief respite before entering another wet field, along the edge of Firsplat Copse, at the end of which lay, yes, you guessed, another very wet, muddy, fenced path. Emerging from this into a small housing estate and then back along the road to the Village Hall, where we could change into some dry clothing before enjoying lunch. All 15 of us made it back.
Author: Peter Berg
Photography: Jo Legg