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Published: January 28th 2008
Timber! Worthing Beach, Sussex
If you go down to the beach today, you'll be sure of a real big 'timber' surprise! Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January 2008 - We were so excited to know that the weather forecast for this weekend was going to be very good - bright skies and mild temperatures. The whole weekend, especially on Sunday, the skies were blue, the sun shining very brightly and full of warmth, and the birds were happily cheerping away.
Due to Lavinia's pending operation on Monday 28 January, we were very keen to find two strenuous walks (yes, we are crazy), because we knew that following the operation, Lavinia will be out of 'hiking action' for at least 6 weeks. Lavinia thought it would be lovely for Steve to be able to spend a weekend reminiscing on happier childhood memories, and so we headed back to the area where he grew up in and around Guildford and Godalming in Surrey, and also along the South Downs Way, where he spent many a happy time exploring the hills with his family.
Saturday 26 January - We headed to Frensham Common and Frensham Little Pond in Surrey first, where Steve and his brother Malcolm had spent many happy hours playing as boys. Steve immediately told Lavinia excitedly about how he and
Frensham Common Little Pond, Surrey
Signpost for car park and start of walk. Malcolm used to swim in the pond - hmmm, it looked so cold and murky, Lavinia was hoping that Steve didn't want her to partake in reliving this memory today. Frensham Little Pond is very picturesque and tranquil, and ducks and swans gracefully swim across the pond. After meandering around the pond for a while, we climbed up steeply towards the very sandy Kettlebury Hill - it was like being on a beach, but without the sea! Apparently after clambering up to Kettlebury Hill, we should have been rewarded with views of the distinctive shape of Guildford Cathedral - we never saw this view. Maybe we were looking in the wrong direction? Steve made friends with a golden Labrador somehow along the walk, or let's put it another way, the Labrador wanted to make friends with Steve. After the Labrador happily followed us for almost 10 minutes, we were slightly panicked that this dog was seeking a new owner - yes, you've guessed it, Steve! Well, luckily the friendly Labrador found his rightful owner - eventually! The walk illustrated the varied nature of Surrey's wonderful landscape. At the start of the walk we followed a path through coppiced woodland and
Views across Frensham Little Pond, Surrey
Frensham Little Pond, where Steve used to play with his brother Malcolm when they were boys. parts of the walk went through areas of forestry reminiscent of parts of Scotland we have visited - in particular the Scottish Highlands.
Sunday 27 January - Well we started very bright and early today, because before starting our walk we wanted to see the phenomenon - the 'Wooded Beach of Worthing'. We had heard that thousands were flocking to see Worthing's once-in-a-lifetime wooded beach and yes, we were about to join them. Apparently 2,000 tonnes of wood washed ashore onto the beach after the striken ship, the Ice Prince on her way to Greece sank. Well, well, well...it was most certainly a sight to behold. There were large planks of wood, piled many metres high on the beach, as far as the eye could see. After taking a few shots, and dodging the people running in the Worthing Sunday Race, we drove onto Findon Valley, just North of Worthing for the start of our walk. The walk passed the Cissbury and Chanctonbury Rings. Cissbury Ring is a huge fort , one of the greatest Iron Age hill forts, enclosing an area of 65 acres. The inner circumference is over 1 mile. The fort was built around 300 BC,
deserted somewhere between 50 BC and AD 50, but reinforced and reoccupied after the departure of the Romans. Cissbury Ring is 640ft high - at the top we were rewarded with sweeping views across the Sussex coast. After leaving Cissbury Ring, we headed along the South Downs Way - another place where Steve had enjoyed exploring as a child. Along the South Downs we had to keep an eye out for the Formula One cyclists, that cycle the path at great speed - it did look fun though! Towards the end of the walk, we made a steady climb up to Chanctonbury Hill - 780ft high and we were rewarded with superb viewpoints and a romantic sunset. Ahhh.... another perfect weekend of walking. Only 3 months until we start the Pennine Way now!
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