To record walks in 2013 by the WG plodders.
Walks done 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009. Walks History can be found here.
Use the Walkhighlands site to display GPX files.
Note upload .gpx files as .txt
Select the Schedule Category to view the Schedule. To see All Walks click "Plods 2013" above.
Steve M is going to be using these walks as training for a marathon 40 mile walk in July in aid of "Action Medical Research" and would be grateful for sponsorship and see the blog page
Walk #11
Date: Wed 11th September
Time: 5.30pm
Where: The Half Moon Charlwood
Parking: So far as I can remember it’s on-street parking outside the pub…
Designer: Andy S.
Route:
The walk will be in an anti-clockwise direction. Initially it follows the Sussex Border path and after 1 mile it turns south heading towards Ifield. The return route follows the western boundary of Gatwick airport with plenty of opportunity to spot planes!
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Walk #10
Date: Wed 21st August
Time: 6.00pm
Where: The Plough Inn, Dormansland
Parking: There is limited parking at The Plough; best bet is in Ford Manor Road (the start of the walk)
Route:
A gentle stroll in the same area as walk #2. Route will be clockwise (but is possibly subject to change as I haven’t walked any paths in the area for a couple of months).
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Due to a clash with a works social (is it really more important than a stroll through the countryside!?) we had somewhat reduced numbers this week. Those that did turn up enjoyed a very pleasant evening with glorious sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s. Not too many great views (sorry) nor too much in the way of hills so a wind-down towards the end of the waling season.
Walk #7
Date: Wed 3rd July
Time: 6.00pm
Where: The Cock Inn, Wivelsfield Green
Parking: The Pub car park is limited; recommended parking is in Downsview Drive opposite
Designer: Ian C.
Route:
The route will be in a clockwise direction; late arrivers should easily be able to cut off sections in an attempt to catch up!
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Despite DP having been on a jolly to Brighton and roadworks/holdups on the A23 we managed to leave before 6:15!
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17 walkers & 3 dogs followed Ian’s route. DT found a lovely picture postcard cottage to admire, only spoilt by parked cars!
As usual entertainment was provided by Pete and his 2 black labradors as at each stile or gate as the dogs insisted on going different ways and enduring a great tangle of leads! The weather continued to improve and we even finished in sunshine despite Annies concern that Ian’s walk would take too long!
Total recorded distance of 12.3Km in 2hrs 48mins
Walk #6
Date: Wed 19th June
Time: 6.00pm
Where: The Sussex Oak, Warnham
Parking: Car park beside the pub (there is also some on-road parking if required).
Designer: Neal Z.
Route:
Whilst the route looks like a figure-of-eight the plan is to walk both “loops” in a clockwise direction. Providing we don’t dawdle (and the weather is clement) there will be a short break for refreshment at the Chequers Inn in Rowhook.
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Report from Mr Z.
All’s well that ends well they say. And it ended well. All 16 people, and two dogs, by my count, comfortably settled in the pub garden on the warmest day of the year. Not only that but Gail had brought cupcakes for us all!
Getting to that happy point, however, was the story of the day with 3 different groups of people having different stories. I knew I’d be in trouble when I accepted a lift from Mr Tilling…and sure enough we were in time to be late…(my suspicions were confirmed when his AC failed to work on the press of the button…shortly before hitting a closed M23…the cause of the 3 way split..and a stuffy spell for some).
Several others, already at the pub, were itching to start walking and only Fran was able to keep the group splitting into 4 mini groups. Once assembled, the larger group took in the deer park at the start and red phone box at the end with a quick half taken in half way round at Rowhook.
It was at Rowhook that we met up with Simon and Franklin…who took the shorter route there…they expressed disappointment at not meeting up with the third group who stayed around Warnham and occupied their time by checking out the graveyard in some detail. Such stories were swapped at the Sussex Oak over said cupcakes. The good news continued towards the end of the evening with Franklin getting a lift from Mr Tilling, who not only got him back safe and sound but also had worked some magic on the AC button.
Walk #4
Date: 22nd May
Time: 6.00pm
Where: Plumpton Railway station
Directions: These were sent out in an email on the 16th. At some point you’ll need to catch the train to Plumpton (or get the train back there).
Designer: Mark
Route:
We start from Plumpton railway station and head east along the line before crossing it and heading south for the Downs. We climb to the top of the downs from just below Black Cap. After a brief walk along the top we descend to Offham cross the road and go down to the River Ouse. The last 3km is along the Ouse Valley walk and we finish by passing the Harvey’s Brewery and dropping in to the John Harvey Tavern.
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A very good turnout with 16 walking from Plumpton to Lewes and 1 from Lewes to Plumpton! The weather had been well organised by Graham and we had a lovely sunny walk with great views back over the weald and down to the coast. AS always the John Harvey provided good refreshment! Distance recorded was 12.1km
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More Photos from DTa added just to prove he was there!
Walk #3
Date: 8th May
Time: 6.00pm
Where: Reigate Hill
Parking: National Trust car park at Margery Wood (£2.50 or free for members)
Designer: Andy S.
Route:
A figure of eight route crossing the motorway to Reigate Hill then back along the North Downs before returning through Walton Heath golf course and stopping off at The Sportsman (about 1km before the end of the walk).
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As per usual we picked one of the poorer evenings of the week weather-wise for the walk… however, it didn’t quite get bad enough to cause us to drag out waterproofs though it did make the views from the top of the downs a bit grey.
A good turn out again – 10 made the start of the walk and we picked up another 5 stragglers towards the end..
Andy changed the route slightly going round the smaller loop in the opposite direction – this meant we went down the steeper path and up the (very slightly) less steep one.
We started about 5 minutes late as we were waiting for some latecomers but then moved on briskly towards the top of Reigate Hill. We had a look round the fort before making our way down to the bottom of the hill – and almost immediately back up again. The walk along the top of the downs was probably in the worst of the weather which really closed down the view, unfortunately – you could just about make out Leith Hill but not much further.
Returning back across the golf course we picked up the rest of the crowd who’d sadly missed the start before stopping off at The Sportsman for well earned pint (at least for most of us).
Off the top of my head the plodders were: Andy S., Bertie, Phil C., Roy C., Ian C., Dan W., Mark, Pete F., Neal Z. and Franklyn. The late arrivers were Maud, Andre Latour (welcome to the plods Andre), Sonika, David J. and his better half.
Walk #2
Date: 24th April
Time: 6.00pm
Where: Dormansland
Parking: There is limited parking at The Plough; best bet is in Ford Manor Road (the start of the walk)
Route:
Lots of opportunities to bail out early if the weather turns bad 
. The route was OK when I checked it a couple of weeks ago (except for one stretch which I’m now bypassing). Was a bit muddy on top last weekend but shouldn’t be too bad if the weather holds…
If anyone’s late the plan is to go clockwise round the route.
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As usual we probably picked the worst evening of the week weather-wise for the walk – however, on this occasion, this meant only that it was a bit chilly and overcast. No rain and also dry underfoot.
This was probably a record turnout: a total of 20 people or thereabouts which even beats the Ditchling walk (see the picture at the top of the 2010 archive), so well done to all who turned out (particularly the newbies from the Fairwarp walk who didn’t allow the appalling weather then to put them off). A warm welcome to the new walkers and those returning from long layoffs.
The walk went as planned (despite the determined efforts of one or two to head in different directions) and a good pace was kept up by all with the group only really breaking up as we relaxed along the home stretch.
For the record I think the list of attendees was (in no particular order): Franklyn, Simon F., Sonika, Maud, Steve M., Andy S. & Bertie, Neal Z, Graham B., Roy, Phil C., Andy D., Pete F., Ian C., Lee, Hema, Gail, Marcela and Mark (apologies to anyone I’ve missed/mis-spelt). DT’s excuse of the week: painting the kitchen.
What we did (in red) and previous route in 2008 (Cowden).
