Plods 2013

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).

Walk

Date: 10th April 2013

Where: Fairwarp, Ashdown Forest

Parking: On road by Cricket ground

Designer: Steve

Pub: Foresters

Route

Modified slightly to be a bit more than 7Km
Weather looking cool and possibly damp with wind so dress accordingly. Going will be soft to wet so boots or waterproof shoes 😉

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A good turnout despite the poor weather. Rachel (Interica) was delayed but called Nick as we were walking away from Fairwarp. By a piece of poor navigation we came out to the road just as she was passing. This resulted a split of the group with Nick, Jim & Bev waiting while RAchel found some offroad parking. The main group by this time headed back towards the correct route via a number of valleys and a meandering route! By the time we got to Airman’s grave it was wet and getting dark.

We all met up at the pub afterwards. The longer route was logged at 8.8Km and the shorter estimated at 4.6km