NEW LIPCHIS WAY - DAY ONE

LIPHOOK TO MIDHURST 12.75 MILES

Introduction:- This walk has a dedicated web site http://www.newlipchisway.co.uk/ There is a downloadable leaflet on the walk where it is stated to be a 39 mile walk from Liphook in Hampshire to the sea at East Head at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. The route crosses the South Downs National Park. It goes via Woolbeding Common, Midhurst, Singleton, Chichester, and West Itchenor.

What follows is a description of my journey along the route. To the left is one of the waymarks and they are fixed so that the word "Lipchis" is the direction of travel.

To get to the start take the train to Liphook, Hampshire. For those coming from afar there are no hotels near the station, those that are just out of town are in the wrong direction and will add to your walk on Day One unless you get a taxi there and back.

The figures in brackets are the Ordnance Survey Grid Reference and the cumulative mileage.

On exiting from the station go to the north east to locate the road that crosses the railway line nearby [841309 - 0.10 miles] and turn right south east along it. This is the Midhurst Road and continue along it passing the ends of the following roads on the right - Gunns Farm, Hollycombe Close, and South Road and then on reaching the urban edge there is a road on the left called Highfield Lane signposted to Highfield School. Go left along it (there is a small path that short cuts the very corner) and immediately look for a bridleway on the right. [847305 -0.55 miles ] Follow the track through woods (see photo below) until at 853303 [0.98 miles] and now within Access Land there is a path signposted to the left off the track. Follow it as it climbs and then levels out, then joins a vehicular track where the route is straight on.

At 855305 [1.12 miles] turn right along a vehicular track that goes through the wooded Stanley Common (see photo below). 

Follow it until open fields appear ahead (861299 - 1.63 miles) here turn right keeping in the woods along a track heading south south west. At 859294 - 2.02 miles ignore a bridleway to the right and keep straight on. At 858292 - 2.11 miles the bridleway turns left and goes south east with the grounds of the Hollycombe Steam Collection on the right, a bit of the rail track and signals can be seen. The bridleway then starts a descent in a cutting (see photo below).

The route is dropping down into a valley surrounded by hills. The trees have a habit of falling across the route. This one has been reported to West Sussex County Council.

Near the bottom of the hill there is the view below north towards Marley Heights and in the far distance Black Down (see photo below)

Nearing the bottom of the hill (861287 - 2.52 miles) there is a cottage off to the right and then the bridleway passes to the side of some dwellings at Elmers Marsh before coming out onto a road. (863283 - 2.79 miles). Turn left along the road for about 40 metres and take a path on the right. The path runs along the side of electricity installations and then goes into Hartley Green Copse (865282 - 2.95 miles). Keep going in a straight line through the woods until at 867279 - 3.18 miles take the footpath to the left (signposted). At 869279 - 3.29 miles it crosses a forestry track and continues along another ahead where there was tree clearance on the left (see the picture below).

At 871279 - 3.44 miles turn right up a bridleway which emerges into field associated with Upper North Park Farm. The bridleway is fenced out of the fields. On approaching a substantial house on the left I spotted the unusual child's swing (below) on the path. (872277 - 3.61 miles)

Immediately after was the lovely view below across a pond, complete with fountain, to the farm house a lovely mixture of different building materials. It is left on reaching the gates along the approach road. 

The road drops into a valley crosses a stream and climbs up the other side. At the top where the road goes left the route is across a stile into a field. (874275 - 3.78 miles) Follow the edge of the field to the far right corner where there is another stile into the wooded valley on the right. 875274 - 3.90 miles). Continue along a path which keeps to the top of a slope down to a stream on the right. The path crosses the stream and then at 873269 - 4.22 miles where there is a track to the right the route enters a forested area. Continue ahead to a junction of tracks where there is a wooden observation tower. Continue straight on uphill until at 840266 - 4.40 miles the path enters a pine forest and there is a view back (see photo below). 

At 873265 - 4.46 miles a cross roads of tracks is reached and here the route is to the right along a forest road gradually up hill through West Copse. The forest track levels out and even descends slightly, passes a track down to the right and at 899264 - 4.76 miles the woods are left behind and then there is a house on the right with a lovely view to the north. Follow the track until it reaches a road. Turn left uphill along it with banks on either side. On reaching the top of the gully look for a path on the right with a seat immediately down it. The view is quite amazing over Woolbeding Common (see below). the perfect picnic lunch spot. (869262 - 4.93 miles). http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-countryside 

If you take a detour on a path to the right (when sitting on the seat) and walk along the top of the slope there is a trig point and the wide view below. (867264)

The view from the aforementioned seat is the confluence of the Serpent Trail and the New Lipchis Way which briefly follow the same route. Below are the two waymarks.

There is a car park to the south of the seat, follow the road and it is on the left at 5.06 miles 869260. Turn left into the car park and out the other side climbing a path east through the common. At the top of the ridge the path comes out onto a vehicular track [5.20 miles 871260]. Turn right along it. The Serpent Trail goes off down a path to the left.  At 5.55 miles 875256 just after a parking area turn right along a path going west across the common. A cross roads of tracks is reached at 5.78 miles 871254. Continue straight on with fields now on the left. The path drops down to a track at 5.94 miles 869254, turn left here and on reaching farm buildings right then keep straight on near a little cottage until a road is reached at 6.13 miles 866253. This is the road you left at the earlier car park. Go straight across to a path on the other side going west downhill until Linch Road is reached at 6.26 miles 864253. Bear left and go through a parking area on the other side of the road and along another path south west. Lower down ignore the attractive path off to the right that figures in the photo below.

At 6.42 miles 862252 there is a cross roads of paths, go straight on. Paths join from the right and then the left and at 6.57 miles 861250 bear left down a vehicular track which leads past Woolhouse Farm which is  down on the right. The gypsy wagon below was outside when I passed at 6.62 miles 861249. Follow the track around to the left in the picture below to the left of the wagon.

There is a valley with rough cow pasture on the right of the track which now bends to the right. At 6.78 miles 862247 turn right down a track which keeps within woods but with those fields still on the right. At 7.07 miles 859245 there is a lake down in the woods below, it is the dark area in the trees on the other side of the field in the picture below.

Keep following the track which is pictured below, looking back at 7.28 miles 857242.

At 7.41 miles 857240 leave the track on a path on the right which descends steeply with a cottage below, the path leads to the entrance. [7.48 miles 856240]. Turn left on the access road following a stream on the right. Immediately after the entrance for Ash House [7.55 miles 856239] fork right off the roadway onto a path which immediately bears left staying inside the woods with a field and a stream down to the right. At 7.85 miles 855234 the path reaches a road (Stedham Lane) turn right along it over the stream and then immediately left along a path that keeps above the stream. The stream is going soon to join the River Rother. The path is enclosed to start with and then unenclosed in the second field. You should be able to exit the field in the far left corner onto a track near the River Rother [8.08 miles 855231]but it was buried in the undergrowth when I visited. Follow the track to the right which heads towards Iping and its church visible ahead. At 8.24 miles 852229 the track joins a road with St Mary's Church opposite - see photo below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iping

Go left downhill to cross the River Rother. Below is a picture from the east side. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Rother,_West_Sussex

Following the road on the other side look for a path on the left going uphill at 8.36 miles 853228. The path passes by the side of a house and then starts along an enclosed section through fields, the River is way off to the left or north. At 8.70 miles 858226 the path rejoins the River Rother and follows it until Stedham Bridge comes into view at 8.99 miles 862226.

Cross the bridge and follow the road until the buildings on the right have been passed and turn right of the road into a field at 9.10 miles 861227. Bear around to the right back to the riverside and on the opposite bank there is the view in the photo below of Stedham Hall.  

Follow the river bank until at 9.56 miles 863232 there is the view below of Stedham Mill.

Ignore the path to the right across the weir to the mill in the picture below and the one to the left which climbs up to Stedham Lane and continue to follow the river.

The path continues by the river crossing a footbridge and eventually leads into a field. Bear around left following the side on the left. It appears to lead to a field gate and an exit onto a lane, [10.54 miles 870222] but here go right keeping in the field and following the boundary on the left until there is an exit onto the lane near Woolbeding Bridge in the picture below at 10.72 miles 872220. 

Cross the narrow medieval bridge and turn left down a path that follows the river. At 10.82 miles 873220 the path bears right away from the river. Ignore a path on the left and continue to a cross roads of paths, that to the left and the right marked as the Rother Valley Walk. Take this permissive path on the left [10.88 miles 874219] and follow the track across the field towards woods ahead. The track and the cross roads is shown in the photo below, the woods are in the background.

 Nearing the woods there is the view in the photo below back up the Rother Valley towards Woolbeding bridge.

 There is also a view across the river to Woolbeding House and All Hallows Church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolbeding  

 On reaching the woods at 11.17 miles 875224 follow the track through the woods and out into a field on the other side. Descend downhill through the field to the far right hand corner [11.40 miles 876227]. In the next field keep to the left hand side and at 11.56 miles 879227 go into the next field and keep on the left hand side. At 11.79 miles 882226 take a path on the left which soon becomes a board walk, take care it might be slippery. The river is now close on the left, follow it as it bears left and then turns right. Ignore another permissive path off to the right [ 12.34 miles 887221] as the river goes left again and at 12.45 miles the weir in the photo below is reached and the path comes out onto the A272.

 Turn right along the main road and across the fields on the left there is a view of the ruins of Cowdray House. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowdray_Park,_West_Sussex

 The road leads into Midhurst and this stage ends for me at the Angel Inn which is a hotel and restaurant http://www.theangelinnmidhurst.com/ and a 17th century coaching inn. [12.75 miles 886216]

For other accommodation options see www.booking.com or http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/

For some history of Midhurst and details of what it has to offer see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midhurst

RIVER ANTON WAY, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND

RIVER ANTON WAY - 10 MILES

Summary:- The River Anton is in Hampshire and runs from springs just to the north-west of Andover down to the River Test. It runs right through Andover where there are five spring-feed lakes and then through very picturesque villages of Upper Clatford and Goodworth Clatford and chalk down land to finish by the River Test where it joins the Test Way.

Route information:- All you need to know about this path can be found by downloading the guidebook in PDF format at http://www.andoverramblers.org.uk/images/pdf/River_Anton_Way.pdf

How to do the walk:- There is a car park very close to the finish at GR383389 immediately below West Down.  Coming from the south the A3057 from Stockbridge does a very sharp left over the track bed of the former Andover to Stockbridge Railway line, at this point on the bend go right (almost straight on) down a minor road and the car park is immediately on the right. Opposite the car park entrance is a bus stop. I caught Bus No 15 to Andover Bus Station at 9.22. Then No 3 Bus at 10:00 from the Bus Station to Lakeside Close, Charlton and then walked back. This should ensure that you are in time to get a pub lunch at Crook and Shears in Upper Clatford. Use http://www.traveline.info/ to check the latest bus times. Put in your departure point as Chilbolton and your destination as Lakeside Close, Charlton, Andover and set the date and time. It will be at this bus stop two minutes before it is due in Chilbolton.

Some pictures I took on the route:-

The start of the walk in Charlton is by the cafe on the other side of the lake in this picture.

The first lake is followed immediately by this one. As you can see the first was clear the second muddy looking.

After a third almost covered in water plants you get to this larger one in the Anton Lake Nature reserve 

As you pass through the centre of Andover following the River Anton you pass the Town Mills which has a bar and beer garden http://www.thetownmills.co.uk/ It would make a good mid-morning stop.

Just before you leave Andover and near the bypass is this large lake and a near neighbour. The water was very clear and below the surface the water weeds concealed large numbers of small fish. 

This is the Crook and Shears in Upper Clatford http://www.crookandshears.co.uk/ where I stopped for a pub lunch. A beautiful traditional English Pub.

Further down the River Anton the route climbs up the only hill of the route and this is the view looking back towards Goodworth Clatford. 

This is the view across the valley towards Chilbolton.

THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY SIXTEEN

LA CASERNE TO MONT ST-MICHEL - 2 MILES

Summary:- The final short stage was on a lovely morning and Mont St-Michel is an impressive site behind its protective walls. We arrived early,  went through the old town to the entrance to the religious complex and carried out the grand tour. Walked the walls and then had lunch and in the afternoon took the bus to Pontorson and checked in to a hotel close to the railway station ready for the first stage of the journey home by train. Had an excellent meal in a nearby restaurant.

For some amazing views of Mont St-Michel that you can only get from a drone see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z_efL-iK24

For a more conventional documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zq0axpbPns

Route description:-  Things have changed significantly around Mont St-Michel in recent years. It used to have a tidal causeway road to it and vast car parks partly in the tidal zone and partly just out of it. Now all of that has gone. A channel has been excavated to make it an island, the car parks have been buried in mud. A causeway on piles has been built to allow 24/7 access but private cars and camper vans that used to come in droves now have to park in a park and ride site at La Caserne on the mainland and visitors have to take a shuttle bus to the island or walk along the elevated causeway on wide pavements next to the carriageway. In the picture below you can see the mud that has been deposited to restore the coastal marshland.

 

Before leaving the Hotel Vert we obtained a leaflet of the bus times from Mont St-Michel to Pontorson from the large rack of leaflets and set off early before the coaches arrived. It was no more that 2 miles today, the sun was breaking through to make a beautiful morning for the finish of the walk. In the picture below you can see the road and pavement on piles in the foreground.

It is a walled town as you can see above and there are a double set of entrance gates to go through, below is one of them. Look for the tourist office on entering the gates if you have followed in our footsteps. There you can get an official certificate to record and register the completion of your pilgrimage. Which certificate you get depends on the route that you have taken to get there.

 

Below is a picture taken from high up in the religious complex showing the channel that has been constructed to make it an island across which the elevated causeway crosses to the turning area below the walls.

 

 

Because we were not allowed in the religious centre with our big backpacks we took it in turns to do the tour. There is a set route taking in all the areas open to the public.

 

The church is taken in early on the tour and the picture below is taken from behind the altar.

Just left of centre is the large area in front to the church entrance where you get the first opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views over the bay and back to the mainland. On the side visible in the picture below there is a steep drop down onto the gardens below.

 

The cloisters which have good views from some of the windows around the outside.

 

 

The picture window in the cloisters with the mainland in the background.

 

The refectory is below 

 

Because the religious part is high up they have a large wheel (below) and ropeway up the side of the walls which enables goods to be hauled up.

Below a view out into the bay to the west of the island with the coast we had walked in the background.

 

The tour takes visitors down through the gardens and you can look back up at the massive structure.

 

Below is the view  showing the route that visitors have to climb up to get to the ticket office entrance.

 

The town walls are high, with many steep steps but well worth the effort of exploring. There are views down onto the streets in the town and restaurants directly off the walls lower down.

 

This is a Mont St-Michel omelette a local speciality. It is enormous but the mixture has been whipped up so that it is very light.

 

You can walk right around the island if you set out when the tide is retreating and if you like getting thorough muddy. The picture below shows a couple of coach loads of children making a lot of noise and getting thoroughly muddy.

This is the old town from the walls. We were lucky we had just finished our omelettes in an open courtyard and the heavens opened for a short while which is why everyone in the picture has their cagoules on.

 

Hotel:- Most of the buses leaving Mont St-Michel are the shuttle buses but there is one bus route that goes to Pontorson which has a railways station on the main line from Rennes to Caen or Cherbourg. All the buses turn around near the entrance to the town walls but the bus stops are a little way back down the causeway. On getting to Pontorson we checked into the Hotel au Jardin St Michel at 37 Rue de la Liberation, 50170 Pontorson. Phone +33233601135. We had booked it through Booking.com. On the main road there is the original hotel and restaurant and behind is an extension in motel style. Being remarkably good value yet basic accommodation it is half the price of staying in La Caserne. The advantage to us was it was a short walk in the morning to get the early morning train and there was only one that would enable us to make the connection for the ferry at Caen. There was a restaurant but it was closed. We found about a quarter of a mile away the Restaurant Roi XIV, 14 Rue du Docteur Tizon, 50170 Potorson Telephone 0233690929 www.le-14.com  which was extremely good value for money, served very good food and there was good service. The Restaurant and the hotel got 8.5 out of ten because of their good value for money.

 

The second half of the Three Saint's Way is the 547 kilometres to St Jean d'Angely but that is another trip some when soon I hope. http://pilgrimagepublications.com/pp_2014/three-saints-way/