3 men on a walk 2016: January 2016

Monday, 25 January 2016

Hampton Court to Richmond

Another Thames Path section - Hampton Court to Richmond

After another bout of heavy rain we decided the fields of Kent and Sussex were not desirable of our company and so we set off to walk the Thames Path again. Starting at Hampton Court - a favourite palace of King Henry V111 - we walked 8.6 miles along the River to Richmond where we caught the train home.

This was a nice section and probably "prettier" than the previous section from Twickenham. It took us through Kingston Upon Thames and on the far side to a nice pub called "The Boaters" where lunch was taken. Plenty of water fowl were out on the river - Cormorants; Tufted Ducks; Swans and Grebe - and amazingly the spring hedgerow flowers like May were starting to bloom, something that shouldn't be happening until well into April. This really is a silly "Weather Year".

The River Thames at Hampton

Hampton Court Palace

The Back Gate !

Approaching Kingston Upon Thames

Kingston Bridge

Lunch Stop "The Boaters Inn"

Amazing - the spring hedgerows are starting to bloom already

Richmond Bridge

Stats for the day were...

Finished Hike: 25 Jan 2016, 14:40:03

Route: Hampton Court to Richmond

Weather:

temperature	13°C
humidity	72%
wind	15 mph SSW

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20160125-1115

Import Link: Download Google KML file

Hike Time: 2:38:22

Stopped Time: 43:56

Distance: 8.62 miles

Average: 3.27 mile per hr

Fastest Pace: 13:48 min/mile

Ascent: 115

Descent: 103

Calories: 892

Monday, 18 January 2016

Jevington to Alfriston

Jevington to Alfriston over the South Downs

After a cold wet then snowy weekend we were lucky to have a dry day even if it was only 3 dec C. We headed for the South Downs because being a chalk outcrop, they tend to be less muddy and the water drains so much better through the chalk. Basically this was correct except that for a few miles we had to walk alongside the river Cuckmere and this was very muddy! It had been in flood only a week earlier and at places had burst its banks and flooded the surrounding fields.

We parked up at Jevington and walked up onto the top of the South Downs on the South Downs Way. From this viewpoint we could see the North sea; the white cliffs on the Seaford side of the Cuckmere estuary. The path also took us along the top of the "Wilmingtom Man" sculpture cut into the chalk above Wilmington village. However, we couldn't see it from the top!

From here the South Downs Way drops down into the Cuckmere valley and the ancient village of Alfriston. We had a choice of three "hostelries" for lunch and chose "The Olde Smugglars Inne", this being a new venue for our log. This pub was built in 1358 and at one time it was the headquarters for the smuggling of Brandy from France to avoid excise duty. (See http://www.yeoldesmugglersinne.co.uk/pages/history.html )

After lunch we walked along the river to the village of Litlington (home of the Long Man Micro-Brewery whose ale we had drunk at lunch) and from here turned East to trek up the downs again on the path back to Jevington.

Jevington Church

Up top of the Downs

Looking West along the downs

Its over there - somewhere!

above the Wilmington Man looking at Arlington Reservoir

Snow still nestling in the north facing crags from our weekend flurry

Alfriston High Street

Our lunch stop

Alfriston Church

The old clergy house at Alfriston

Stats for the day were ...

Finished Hike: 18 Jan 2016, 14:52:13

Route: Jevington - Alfriston loop

Weather:

temperature	5°C
humidity	81%
wind	14 mph SE

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20160118-1035

Import Link: KML download file

Hike Time: 2:52:09

Stopped Time: 1:24:03

Distance: 8.49 miles

Average: 2.96 mile per hr

Fastest Pace: 15:44 min/mile

Ascent: 1389

Descent: 1396

Calories: 904

Monday, 11 January 2016

Another section of the Thames Path

Twickenham to Barnes along the Thames

After a week of rain we really didn't want a countryside walk up to our knees in mud so we jumped on a train and did another section of the Thames path. The day started a bit grey but brightened as time progressed and whilst the wind was cold this was an excellent choice of a walk both for weather; views and a clean underfoot run.

We started at Twickenham and walked east towards London. This stretch of the Thames was once miles from central London and so big mansions and deer parks abound and the walk between Twickenham and Richmond had lots of fine buildings to see. Richmond is an attractive riverside town and on the far side the path follows the outer edge of Richmond Deer Park which then leads onto Kew Botanical Gardens.

Being "flat" and with a hard surface to walk on we made good time and averaged over 3 mph something we can't do in Kent & Sussex mud!

Eventually we reached Mortlake and right opposite the finishing line for the Famous Oxford Vs Cambridge Boat race was a pub - The Ship - and this became our lunch-stop. From here we carried on along the path to Barnes Bridge where we turned off South towards Barnes common and the train station for the return trip.

The river at Twickenham

Marble Hill House

Richmond Bridge

Richmond Riverside

Parakeets kept us company for most of the day

Syon Park House, Isleworth

The Ship - our lunch stop

Barnes Riverside

Stats for the day were ...

Finished Hike: 11 Jan 2016, 14:22:11

Route: Twickenham - Barnes

Weather:

temperature	7°C
humidity	93%
wind	9 mph W

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20160111-1052

Import Link: Download Google KML file

Hike Time: 2:37:22

Stopped Time: 52:27

Distance: 8.37 miles

Average: 3.2 mile per hr

Fastest Pace: 11:38 min/mile

Ascent: 444

Descent: 497

Calories: 850

Monday, 4 January 2016

The North Downs and Darent valley

Otford - North Downs - Shoreham loop

The first "Monday Walk" of 2016 and we needed a bit of a challenge. The weather was also challenging but it seemed as if the further north was better and so we chose this 8 mile loop walk which starts with a massive climb up to the top of the North Downs.

Parking up at Otford our first surprise was that the car park was now a pay zone where it was free the last time we parked there! The first of the showers was lingering but generally we got away without getting wet for the first hour or so and the views across the valley were great. Gradually we looped around towards Shorham Village and dropping down again into the valley we were hit by several pretty sharp showers,

Shoreham has a couple of nice pubs but being to early to stop we carried on around the figure-of-eight loop we had planned knowing that in an hours time we would be back in the village again. We were but to our dismay both pubs were closed! Still looking on adversity as a positive, we knew that there were pubs we had not used before in Otford and so we pushed on to complete the whole walk.

The ground was sodden for most of the walk but this last section was really bad in places with mud pools the consistency of custard in places. To make it worse, we hit a really heavy shower just as we reached the car. However, the "Bull Inn" was just across the road and we found some excellent ales and food to warm ourselves up again.