December's walk

What a morning, really wet and windy and most of the group cancelled but five of us turned up at the car park to meet Dave and we bravely went ahead as the rain had eased. We were not the only ones as several other walker were in evidence most of them accompanied by their dogs. It was fun splashing through the puddles. Half way we did have to take shelter behind a gorse bush to get out of the way of horizontally driven rain but it did not last long. The sun came out for a while which was pleasant. In all a very good walk and we felt quite good for making the effort.

December walk

November's walk in the sunshine

Although most of us, the nineteen who came for the New Forest walk, were dressed for November the weather was as sunny as a summer's day with a temperature to match.Despite repeatedly stopping to investigate all the fungi which was plentifully in evidence we made it back at 12.15. It was a very good walk we all including the 2 dogs enjoyed it. One picture of Brian is him showing how tall the grass was so that the height of the deer we had just seen could be estimated.

November Walk

October's Cheriton Walk

I'm told the walk was very good as we arrived too late to meet up and not having tracking skills we unable to trace the twelve who arrived on time. We made several attempts to see where the party went. We went one way until players on a tennis court said nobody went past them. We then saw what seemed a lane but subsequently turned out to be a private entrance to a walled house and garden. Before we turned back the occupant came out and said now we had come this far we could go through his grand estate to follow the right of way path. He said he was tempted to meet us again at lunch but didn't. After that pleasant meeting we then went for a good walk alongside newly planted fields and then back to the village. Where we met a newly married couple staying at the Flower Pots Inn in a separate building, sitting on a bench seat in the front garden. They told us how they enjoyed staying there and how good the food was.
After that being early we went back into the village which is extremely well laid out with a war memorial in the centre and a small brook running past the post office.
Back to the Inn and along came the walkers looking forward to a much deserved meal which we enjoyed sitting out in the Marquee.

October walk

September Walk at Brockenhurst

Seemed strange not to have Dave leading us but Mike did a good job of guiding us on our Brockenhurst forest walk. Cloudy to start, with the threat of rain but this soon changed. We, all nineteen of us plus one griffin (a minature dog) kept to well made up shingle tracks. Not too amused when we were passed by large log carrying lorries and with nowhere to go we were enveloped in dust. We crossed over the rail track and the way was mainly through woods.It got very warm and coats came off as we appreciated the shade from the avenue of trees.

September Walk

1st August walk St Catherine's Hill Winchester

Another glorious morning for our walk this time in Winchester off Junction ten. A convenient carpark alongside the river from where we fifteen walkers followed the narrow bank before skirting the steep hill. We then crossed over the motorway passing the stone memorial inscribed with the names of Maggie Thatcher and some of the cabinet who granted permission to cut this savage slash through a beautiful area. Then we made a careful crossing of the golf course, alert to the sound of "fore". Completing the circular walk we arrived back at the river where we observed a nesting moorhen family.

July walk

Only a small group today with so many having other reasons not to be there but despite that we all enjoyed the walk through very waterlogged heath. A few highlights when Brian gallantly carried Bridget through deep water - shame too quick to film. We also met a herd of cows lying in the direct path we wanted to go and it was us that moved out of the way. The cows then decided it would be more interesting to follow us until they got bored. The weather again was kind and though the wind was severe it was warm. Bridget found a butterfly of interest but picture out of focus.

June's Beaulieu walk.

22 members and 3 dogs gathered at 10 am for another beautiful day and another great walk from Beaulieu car park cutting through the side streets into the well laid out trail alongside the river all the way to Bucklers Hard. The strategically placed ice cream vendor was too tempting to resist for some of us and after a short break we made the return trip

May walk

Chilly start, spoilt after continuous sunshine for weeks, we bravely set out 22 of us including one grandson and a friendly griffin on Dave's well timed walk through different types of heath and conifer covered landscape. We spotted a herd of deer just seen in photograph. We passed what is marked down as a tumulus but one member gave the history of where a reinforced submarine pen was built so that the best way to destroy them could be practised. We passed many old bomb craters where even Barnes Wallis dam busting bombs were also dropped.Ashleigh walk bombing range

Shanklin IOW walking holiday

Twentysix of us enjoyed a splendid walking holiday arranged by John with Dave's comprehensive planning. The hotel was good and the staff even better, topped by superb food. Even the weather was exceptionally warm and sunny.
An early crossing on Friday and we went straight to Hambledon Hotel, Shanklin to leave our luggage and then we headed for Godshill Old Smithy car park and a walk through woodlands and fields. Then back to Shanklin for dinner. The evening was entertaining with mainly group quizzes.
The second full day we went to Shorewell for a fairly steep downland slope walk that turned out to be a major challenge including a stile that almost defeated some of us. The views made the struggle well worth it. The soft drinks never tasted better at the Crown Inn.
The second level coastal walk was at Niton. More fine food and further quizzes.
Sunday after a full breakfast we went to Niton and we climbed to the top to see the Oratory and trig point. Most of us made our own arrangements for lunch and then met up at Freshwater for a river walk to Yarmouth. Two of us not fancying more walking but did make it to the top of the Tennyson Down to take a photograph.

Our thanks to John and Dave for a great holiday.

......................................who said chivalry is dead?

4th April Walk

Report written by Jack

On a bright cold day 23 hardy souls took off for the 25th monthly walk in the New Forest. We set of at a brisk pace and were soon chatting together as we spread out into a long column.
We walked adjacent to Bishop's Dyke built in 1385, when Bishop Wickham decided he would claim a piece of the forest for himself, by getting one of his parishioners to crawl in as large a circle as he could manage on his hands and knees. The poor fellow managed about 7 miles thereby giving his master a huge chunk of land.( the good old days).
We walked on into Fidlow Woods where we came across World War 2 bomb craters( of course we had to take the obligatory photo shots to establish the depth and size of the hole). These bombs were aimed at Beaulieu Airfield, poor shots those Germans ,in the latter part of the war.
The ground was in good walking order so we walked through some magnificent Trees with the wind whispering overhead in the top branches to our silent footsteps below.
As we neared the end of the wood we caught a sight of eleven Roe Dear drifting across our path and blend into the undergrowth no more than 100yards away. What graceful animals they are!
So it was back to the car park( once again within minutes of Dave's estimate) where two years ago just 8 people did the very first Totton U3A Walk.Proving that a simple thing, like a walk in the Forest can give so many people,so much pleasure. Providing of course you have a good guide like we have in Dave Butcher.
Thanks Dave.

March Walk - Linwood

Excellent walk in fine sunny weather with mainly blue skies and not too cold. It was very muddy but we were not worried as we had all got the right footwear. Twenty-five of us set out and twenty-two had a lunch at the Red Shoot on the completion of the walk.